William Hooson's Miners Dictionary (Wrexham, 1747) has an entry for Ribb
which suggests that you are right. It begins:
Most Veins carry their Ore in Ribbs, which is that solid Part of the Ore
that sets forward according to the Sides, and up and down in a Forefield, so
that in driving we leave it firm both in Roof and Sole; many times a Vein
will carry two Ribbs, and softness between them ...
I'll send you a scan of the whole entry off list.
Christopher J Williams
In a message dated 21/04/2011 10:21:21 GMT Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
Dear List,
Does anyone know about the use of the term 'ribs' or 'ribbs' in connection
with medieval to post-medieval mining?
A lodeback working in the Tamar Valley is called 'Luscombe Ribbs' in a list
of 1778, while in Walkhampton parish
on Dartmoor, there was a tinwork called 'Newlacombe Ribbs' in 1640.
I thought it might describe situations where several lodes or stringers run
closely parallel, giving the impression of
(bone) ribs, but of course I may be barking up the wrong tree.
Any ideas?
Robert Waterhouse
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