Enhanced precision, accuracy, efficiency, and spatial resolution of U-Pb ages by laser ablation-multicollector-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry

U-Th-Pb geochronology by laser ablation-multicollector-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry initiated during the mid to late 1990s as a reconnaissance tool, capable of generating ages of only moderate precision from relatively large volumes of zircon. New developments in instrumentation and experimental methodology, as described herein and by other researchers, now make it possible it to correct for common Pb accurately (using measured ²⁰⁴Pb), to acquire geochronologic information rapidly (30-40 unknowns/h), to generate U-Pb ages with an accuracy of better than 1% for most zircon standards, and to conduct analyses on much smaller (e.g., 10 μm by 6 μm) volumes of material. These capabilities are driving important advances in many aspects of Earth science research.