Final answer:
Halite, or salt (NaCl), is the mineral commonly used as a food additive, for flavoring and preserving food. Fluorite, whose composition is calcium fluoride (CaF2), is not used as a food additive, but has applications in jewelry and industry.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mineral commonly used as a food additive is halite, which is another name for salt (sodium chloride, NaCl). Halite as table salt is a crucial part of our diet, used for flavoring and preserving food. It is distinct from the minerals calcite, talc, and fluorite, which have different uses. Fluorite, for instance, has a composition of calcium fluoride (CaF2) and is formed when dissolved calcium and fluoride ions precipitate from groundwater within the Earth's crust. It is not typically used as a food additive, but has applications in jewelry due to its appearance, and in industry where it's valued for its fluorescence. Fluoride, which is a different form of the fluoride ion present in fluorite, is widely used to prevent tooth decay and is found in products like toothpaste and drinking water.