A bearing plate and a nut and bolt arrangement for use as a rib or roof support for coal mines where the extracted coal is used for powder coal and has a specific gravity in the range of 1.5-1.9, preferably 1.7. The bearing plate has an outer reinforced area surrounding an inner reinforced area. The outer reinforced area has one or more endless rib members and the inner reinforced area has a plurality of legs, wherein the legs are spaced from one another and the first end of each leg encircles a bolthole in a center of the bearing plate to receive the bolt of the nut and bolt assembly. The bearing plate and the nut and bolt assembly are made of fiberglass reinforced plastic.

A bearing plate and a nut and bolt arrangement for use as a rib or roof support for coal mines where the extracted coal is used for powder coal and has a specific gravity in the range of 1.5-1.9, preferably 1.7. The bearing plate has an outer reinforced area surrounding an inner reinforced area. The outer reinforced area has one or more endless rib members and the inner reinforced area has a plurality of legs, wherein the legs are spaced from one another and the first end of each leg encircles a bolthole in a center of the bearing plate to receive the bolt of the nut and bolt assembly. The bearing plate and the nut and bolt assembly are made of fiberglass reinforced plastic.