'mineral-like' originates from Modern English, specifically the words 'mineral' and the suffix '-like', where 'mineral' meant 'a naturally occurring inorganic substance' and '-like' meant 'having the form or quality of'.

'mineral' changed from Medieval Latin 'minerale' (and Old French 'minéral') and eventually became the modern English word 'mineral'. '-like' changed from Old English suffix '-lic' (seen in Middle English as '-like') and eventually became the modern English suffix '-like'.

Initially, 'mineral' in earlier usage referred to a substance obtained by mining (an ore) and '-lic' meant 'having the body or form of'; over time 'mineral' evolved to mean 'a naturally occurring inorganic substance', and the compound 'mineral-like' came to mean 'resembling or having qualities of a mineral'.