'mineral-containing' originates from modern English, specifically the compound of the noun 'mineral' and the present-participle form 'containing'. 'mineral' ultimately comes (via Old French and Medieval Latin) from Latin roots referring to mines or ores, and 'contain' comes from Latin 'continēre' where 'con-' meant 'together' and 'tenēre' meant 'to hold'.

'mineral' entered English through Old French/Medieval Latin forms such as 'minerale', and 'contain' derives from Latin 'continēre'; the compound 'mineral-containing' is a straightforward modern English formation joining the noun and a present participle to create an adjective.

Initially the separate elements meant 'mineral' (a naturally occurring inorganic substance) and 'to hold/contain'; over time they combined to form the compound adjective meaning 'containing minerals' with no major shift in those core senses.