In this study, transition metal salts Fe2O3, CoCl2 center dot 6H(2)O and MnSO4 center dot H2O were chosen to be catalysts for Jimsar oil shale pyrolysis. The pyrolysis behaviors of samples in the presence of different catalysts were compared using a thermogravometric (TG) analyzer first. Then the most effective catalytic pyrolysis process was analyzed by thermogravimetry-mass spectrometry (TG-MS). Of the three catalysts investigated, CoCl2 center dot 6H(2)O performed best. With CoCl2 center dot 6H(2)O, the initial reaction temperature of the pyrolysis process was reduced by about 100 degrees C and the temperature range was decreased from 435-1000 degrees C to 330-650 degrees C. The yields of the pyrolysis products CO/ethene and propyne were the highest, while ethene accounted for the major part of CO/ethene. With increasing heating rate, the yields of alkenes and alkynes increased, those of H2O, methane, alkanes and aromatic hydrocarbons decreased, whereas the yields of CO/ethene, H2S, ethane, propene and CO/propane changed but a little. These results and analysis allowed a conclusion to be made that with CoCl2 center dot 6H(2)O as a catalyst, the most optimal heating rate for Jimsar oil shale pyrolysis was 5 degrees C/min.