Abstract: Amorphous bodies by the transformation of microbial were obtained during the simulation of early diagenesis of kelp in this paper. The morphology of the samples was observed, the content of biochemical components, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and the trace metal elements were determined. The experimental results provided important experimental reference data for hydrocarbon source rocks of marine benthic macroalgae. Kelp was constantly degraded in the simulation experiment, the cells was completely broken as amorphous bodies by the 67th day. The microorganism promoted the transformation of biochemical component. In the late anaerobic stage, the content of polysaccharide and protein decreased, but the crude lipid increased up to 8.16%. Kelp had significant effects on the adsorption of the trace metal elements, and the content of the trace metal elements fluctuated. The results show that the microorganism promotes the transformation of kelp to amorphous bodies, and is beneficial to the increase of lipid and hydrocarbon generation, and the content of elements varied regularly. But there are still problems in using the trace metal elements for oil and source rock correlation directly, So further studies are needed.

Key words: kelp, morphology, biochemical component, C,H,N element, trace metal, early diagenesis