The Eocene Epoch corresponds to the runup toward the Greenhouse to Icehouse Cenozoic transition. To fully appreciate this climate evolution, detailed and accurate age‐depth models are required. While much progress has been made recently in the field of Eocene astrochronology, the construction of unambiguous Eocene astronomical timescales (ATS) is hampered by lithologically undetected hiatuses, the scarcity of carbonate‐rich marine successions, and conflicting cyclostratigraphies. In this study, we present an orbital‐scale cyclostratigraphy for Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Hole 762C, and we reconstruct Eastern Indian Ocean dynamics. This reconstruction is based on two ocean‐drilling Eocene sequences: ODP Hole 762C and International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Site U1514. Our eccentricity‐based cyclostratigraphy for Hole 762C is integrated with existing bio and magnetostratigraphies and constitutes the most precise available chronology for this legacy site. The Hole 762C stratigraphy is combined with the existing Site U1514 age‐depth model to obtain a high‐resolution Eocene ATS for the Eastern Indian Ocean. We apply sedimentary noise modeling to obtain new insights in benthic turbulence at both sites. Despite the significant difference in paleo‐waterdepth, noise levels at both sites carry a 1.2‐Myr obliquity amplitude imprint. We interpret the sedimentary noise at Hole 762C, on a submarine plateau, in terms of sea‐level change. The sedimentary noise at U1514, by contrary, is interpreted to be modulated by bottom current intensity as this site represents a deep‐sea basinal environment. We conclude that, despite very similar astronomical signatures, the mechanistic pathways between astronomical forcing and sedimentary response were radically different at these two sites.

The Miocene Hanjiang Formation (HJF) is a remarkable exploration target in the Pearl River Mouth Basin (PRMB). However, challenges such as bias in current sequence stratigraphic schemes, limitations in high-resolution stratigraphic schemes, and incomplete understanding of genetic mechanisms may present obstacles for refining hydrocarbon exploration strategies. This study integrates gamma ray (GR) logging data, lithological variations, sequence stratigraphy, and cyclostratigraphy to delineate connections between sequence stratigraphy and astronomical forcing. The analysis utilizes gamma-ray logging data from boreholes LFA (1250–1960 m) and LFB (1070–1955 m) in the HJF. We constructed an absolute astronomical time scale anchored at the HJF’s top boundary (10.221 ± 0.4 Ma), identifying 6 third-order sequences through detailed analysis. Notably, 18 long-eccentricity cycles (405 kyr) and distinctive 1.2-Myr obliquity modulation signals were detected in the stratigraphic record. Our study demonstrates distinct connection between third-order sequence boundaries and the 1.2-Myr obliquity cycles, congruent with both global eustatic sea-level fluctuations and regional sea-level changes in the PRMB. The integration of cyclostratigraphic methods with sequence stratigraphic analysis proves particularly valuable for objective stratigraphic subdivision and understanding third-order sequence evolution in the divergent continental margin settings of the South China Sea. This approach enhances temporal resolution on a regional scale while revealing astronomical forcing mechanisms governing sedimentary cyclicity.

S1: Tuning details (Fig. S1: Details of tuning of Lühe Basin data). S2: The COCO and eCOCO tests (Fig. S2: COCO testing parameters settings for Rb/Sr data; Fig. S3: eCOCO testing parameters settings for Rb/Sr data; Fig. S4: COCO testing parameters settings for Ti data; Fig. S5: eCOCO testing parameters settings for Ti data). S3: Age model (Table S1: The age-depth model in this study (tuning table)). Supplemental Data 1: Rb/Sr data. Supplemental Data 2: Ti data.