'anthophyllite-bearing' is a compound of 'anthophyllite' + 'bearing'. 'Anthophyllite' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'anthophyllon' (via mineralogical Latin/German/English), where 'anthos' meant 'flower' and 'phyllon' meant 'leaf'. 'Bearing' originates from Old English 'beran' meaning 'to carry'.

'Anthophyllite' was coined as a mineral name in modern mineralogy (19th century) from Greek elements and entered English as 'anthophyllite'. 'Bearing' developed from Old English 'beran' through Middle English 'beren' to the modern verb 'bear' and the adjectival/participial suffix '-ing', forming compounds like 'X-bearing'. Together they produced the descriptive compound 'anthophyllite-bearing'.

Initially the parts referred literally to the mineral name and the verb 'to bear' (i.e., 'carrying anthophyllite'); over time it has been used straightforwardly as a technical adjective meaning 'containing anthophyllite' in geological and mineralogical contexts, a meaning that has remained stable.