High-resolution geochemical profiles through Danian (lowermost Cenozoic) pelagic sediments from the Caribbean Sea (Ocean Drilling Site 1001A) and the Blake Nose margin of Florida (ODP Site 1050C) display regular variations of Fe abundance associated with Milankovitch orbital-climate cycles of obliquity and precession. Upper Danian magnetic polarity zone C27 spans 35 to 36 obliquity cycles at both sites. The corresponding cycle-tuned duration of 1.47 million years is consistent with trends from astronomical tuning of lower Danian polarity chron C29 and revised 40Ar/39Ar age calibration of the Campanian through Eocene magnetic polarity time scale.The complete cycle-tuned Danian stage spans 3.65 m. y. (65.5 Ma to 61.85 Ma). Spreading rates on the synthetic South Atlantic marine magnetic profile that serves as a standard for scaling magnetic polarity chrons display progressive slowing during the Maastrichtian through Danian stages, a constant rate during the late Paleogene and early Eocene epochs, followed by a rapid acceleration during the middle Eocene.