Is iron a mineral?

Iron is a mineral and a vital nutrient for most animals. Because of its ability to form a bond with oxygen, iron is used by the hemoglobin in red blood cells to transport oxygen from the lungs or gills of an animal to the tissues of its body.

A mineral is generally defined as a stable, naturally occurring, nonorganic element or compound. By mass, iron is the most abundant element on Earth, accounting for a sizable proportion of the planet's crust and core. It is the sixth most common element in the universe. Pure iron is a soft metal, but by smelting iron with a small amount of carbon, steel is produced.