'non-argentiferous' originates from the prefix 'non-' (from Latin 'non' meaning 'not') combined with 'argentiferous', where 'argentiferous' comes from Latin 'argentum' meaning 'silver' and the suffix '-ferous' from Latin 'ferre' meaning 'to bear'.

'argentiferous' developed from the Latin components 'argentum' + '-ferous' into Late Latin forms such as 'argentiferus' and entered English as a scientific term; the negative prefix 'non-' was later attached to form 'non-argentiferous'.

Initially it meant 'bearing or containing silver', and this basic sense has been preserved; 'non-argentiferous' thus means 'not bearing or containing silver'.