Final answer:
Calcium is the essential mineral for blood coagulation. It plays a crucial role in the blood clotting process, which is vital for preventing excessive bleeding. Other minerals mentioned, such as iron, potassium, and zinc, have different roles in physiological processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mineral essential for blood coagulation is calcium. Calcium ions in the blood are necessary for the complex process of coagulation, which helps the blood to clot and prevents excessive bleeding following an injury. This function is distinct from those of other minerals like iron, which is critical for the formation of hemoglobin, or potassium and zinc, which also play important roles in the body but are not directly related to blood clotting.
Calcium, as one of the most common minerals in the body, is stored in the skeleton and is necessary not only for the hardening of bones but also for this vital function in the circulatory system. Vitamin K also supports this process by helping to synthesize certain proteins required for blood clotting. Hence, the correct answer among the options given to the question of which dietary mineral is essential for blood coagulation is calcium.