What is the most important mineral?

Carbon is an element, not a mineral.

But as for the most 'important' mineral, in what context? Mineral usage ranges from your tooth paste, to your toilet seat. What do you mean by most important?

Carbon is an element, and not strictly a mineral--especially as utilized by biology. If I were to guess the mineral most significant to people, I would choose quartz. The chemical name is silicon dioxide (SiO2). It's a major component of building materials, used in glass production, refined into silicon for semiconductors, abrasives, and decorative uses as gemstones.

By far, quartz is the most abundant mineral on earth. I would have to say it's the most important mineral.

well minerals are not really a basis of a perticular thing. however in-terms of production i guess you could say olivine??

Carbon. It's the basis for all life on Earth.

Carbon, we are carbon based life forms. We don't' know of any non-carbon based life.