What are essential minerals?

Question

I've never understood the difference between a normal mineral, and an essential mineral.

Answer 1

a normal mineral is one that your body can make on its own.

an essential mineral are ones that you must obtain through the foods and beverages you intake because the body cant make them by itself.

Answer 2

For plants, essential minerals are minerals that are required for a plant to complete its life cycle.  This includes both macronutrients (things like carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus) and micronutrients (molybdenum, boron).

I guess a normal mineral could be any mineral, whether or not it is essential to plants or animals.