'nonmineral' originates from Modern English, specifically the prefix 'non-' (a negating element meaning 'not') combined with 'mineral', which ultimately comes from Medieval Latin 'minerale', where 'minera' referred to material from a mine.

'mineral' came into English via Middle English from Medieval Latin 'minerale' (related to Latin 'minera' or 'mina' meaning 'mine, ore'); in Modern English the productive negating prefix 'non-' was attached to form 'nonmineral'.

Initially 'mineral' referred to a substance obtained from a mine or naturally occurring inorganic material; 'nonmineral' developed to simply denote something that is 'not mineral' and has retained that straightforward negative sense.