"Dolomite problem" has long been one of the focuses and difficulties in the study of sedimentary geology. Dolomite serves as an important reservoir of oil and gas both in China and abroad. Therefore, the understanding of the formation process of dolomite is significant for the exploration of oil and gas in carbonate rocks. There are many models to explain the origin of dolomite, such as the Sabhka evaporation model, the seepage-reflux model, the burial adjustment model, the mixing zone model, and the tidal pumping model. During the past decades, with the further research on the dolomite formation at low temperature, the microbial dolomite model, as a new dolomite origin model, was proposed and well developed. This paper reviews the progress of research on microbial dolomite. Three kinetic barriers of dolomite precipitation under earth surface conditions were listed, which are strong hydration energy of magnesium ion, the existence of sulfate ion and the low concentration and low activity of carbonate ion. The background for putting forward the microbial dolomite model and the growth process and morphological characteristics of microbial dolomite were briefly described. The mediation of microbe during the formation process of dolomite was explained in detail. It is pointed out that the existence of microbes (e.g., sulfate-reducing bacteria and ancient methane bacteria) could change the ion balance of solution and help dolomite to overcome the kinetic barriers during the precipitation process. The application of oxygen isotope of microbial dolomite to the reconstruction of palaeo-temperature and ancient climate change was discussed. The future orientations for research on microbial dolomite (e.g., multidisciplinary analysis, application of high technology etc.) were predicated. The further investigation into the microbial dolomite model will provide researchers with a new approach to understanding the "dolomite problem" and is also helpful to the study of dolomite reservoir in petroleum geology.