'anthraxolite' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'anthrax' and 'lithos', where 'anthrax' meant 'coal' and 'lithos' meant 'stone'.

'anthraxolite' developed as a New Latin/modern scientific formation combining Greek elements ('anthrax' + 'lithos') and was adopted into English usage in mineralogical and geological contexts (19th century onward) as 'anthraxolite'.

Initially, the components conveyed the idea of a 'coal-stone'; over time the term came to denote specifically a compact, coal-like fossil carbonaceous material studied in geology and occasionally used ornamentally.