the process of magnetite and greigite formation from magnetotactic bacteria and the formation of magnetofossils are well understood, although the more specific relationships, like those between the morphology of these fossils and the effect on the climate, nutrient availability and environmental availability would require more research. this however, does not alter the promise of better insight into the earth's microbial ecology and geomagnetic variations over a large time scale presented by magnetofossils. unlike some other methods used to provide information of the earth's history, magnetofossils normally have to be seen in large abundances to provide useful information of earth's ancient history. although lower concentrations can tell their own story of the more recent paleoclimate, paleoenvironmental and paleoecological history of the earth.