The composition of Fushun oil shale (OS) was analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X⁃Ray Diffractomer(XRD).The effects of transition metal salt catalysts (shale ash as a carriers on NiCl ₂·6H ₂O, CuCl ₂·2H ₂O, ZnCl ₂) on the catalytic effect of pyrolysis of OS and precipitation of volatilization were investigated by TG⁃MS. Coats⁃Redfern model was used to analyze the effect of transition metal salt catalyst on the activation energy of OS pyrolysis. The results show that the minerals in OS are mainly composed of quartz, aluminosilicate and a small amount of carbonate, and the organic matter is mainly aliphatic compound. Three transition metal salt catalysts can all promote the pyrolysis of OS. The OS can be rapidly pyrolyzed at 390.1~581.8 ℃ when it is pyrolyzed alone, accounting for 76.19% of the total weight loss. According to the kinetic analysis, the activation energy required by OS pyrolysis can be reduced by the transition metal salt catalysts. NiCl ₂·6H ₂O has the highest capacity (18.7 kJ/mol) to reduce the activation energy of OS pyrolysis, which is 23.55% lower than that of OS pyrolysis alone. The catalytic activity of the transition metal salt catalysts are in a sequence of NiCl ₂·6H ₂O>CuCl ₂·2H ₂O>ZnCl ₂. In addition, the transition metal salt catalysts can also promote the cracking, aromatization and coking of volatiles in the pyrolysis of the OS, Thereby increasing the content of aliphatic hydrocarbons (represented by alkanes and alkenes) and aromatic hydrocarbons in volatiles.