Stone and mineral materials have always been good substrates for a large number of different microorganisms and macroorganisms. Many work groups have analysed the microbiology of stone and the influence of microorganisms on stone destruction. Cases of destruction and of protection are described. The most important factors are, however, ecological or geophysiological equilibria between rock exposure and the biological surroundings. Microbial mats and microbial films, often called biofilms, grow practically on and in all stones exposed for some time to the atmosphere. By their growth they can change the chemical and mineralogical composition of the original rock. Endolithic and epilithic lichen also have an important impact on building stones and alter the stone stability. In some cases, pollution considerably increases the growth of microbial films and thus biodeterioration. The analysis of rock microbiology will take a lot of investigation until anamnesis, diagnosis and therapy of the black, white, green and red rock diseases are clarified.