Bingmajiao volcano is a coastal volcano, located in Eman Town, Leiqiong volcanic field, China. In this paper, based on satellite image and unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV)image data interpretation, as well as field investigation, typical cross sections at different locations of the coastal volcanic cone were analyzed to identify the volcanic eruption sequence and determine the physical mechanism of eruption. The origin of pyroclasts was analyzed under microscope and scanning electron microscope. There are three types of pyroclasts in Bingmajiao volcano. The first type is in the shape similar to ropes or tree root and experienced obvious plastic deformation. The micro-plastic lava droplets with different sizes and irregular shapes are agglomerated on the surface of clasts. The vesicular structure in the clasts is extremely developed. All lines of evidence support this type of pyroclasts derived from magmatic explosive eruption without significant water-involving. The second type of pyroclasts is featured by crusted and moss-like surface with superficial cracks. The rigid shell surface fragmented, forming a large number of sheet-pieces that were re-disordered cemented. Under the surface, fine-honeycomb-like vesicular structure appears. The surface cracking supports the quenching by water under high temperature, and the interior vesicular structure shows that the core part may not be affected. These features indicate moderate water-magma interaction in the pyroclasts. The third type of pyroclasts shows no distinction between the surface and the interior. Irregular vesicles account for the major volume in the pyroclasts. Thin film-like lava separates these vesicles. Some lava broke into a large number of sheet-like pieces and agglomerated, forming strongly brittle-ductile deformed pyroclasts. Abundant cracks appear on the surface of lava. These features support this type of pyroclasts formed in relatively strong water-magma interaction. The study shows that the Bingmajiao volcano erupted in littoral environment, with the characteristic of transition from submarine volcano to terrestrial volcano. In the early stage of volcanism, submarine "fire fountain" type eruption prevailed, and pyroclastic deposits dominated by the third type of pyrolcasts formed underwater. Most were composed of sharp-hornlike volcanic lapilli. The pyroclastic deposit is loose and has no bedding, and the particle size sorting is not obvious. There is a large number of black fluidal juvenile lava with highly vesicular structure. As the eruption continued, when the pyroclastic deposits rose above the water surface, the volcanism transformed into the phreatomagmatic eruption, resulting in surge current and tuff deposit, which has obvious parallel bedding and cross-bedding. The second type of pyroclasts formed in this stage. In the late period of volcanic activity, Strombolian and Hawaiian type eruption were the main types, which formed black and red welding aggregates. Finally, the eruption turned into an overflow of lava, forming a lava platform. According to the eruption physics of Bingmajiao volcano, it is speculated that the potential eruption hazards of littoral volcano in the future include underwater "fire fountains", surging currents, ballistic falling volcanic bombs, lava fountains and lava flows. Among them, the surge current may move at a high speed close to the sea level, affecting a range of 10km around the crater, which is the most dangerous type of volcanic eruption hazard. © 2022, Editorial Office of Seismology and Geology. All right reserved.
