CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ 331,226	$ 386,343	$ 317,301
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	218,122	160,335	146,881
Non-cash compensation expense	7,607	6,417	4,051
Settlement of deferred directors compensation	(459)
Asset retirement obligations	2,853	2,546	2,579
Coal inventory adjustment to market	2,978	386	498
Loss on retirement of vertical hoist conveyor system			1,204
Equity in loss of affiliates, net	14,650	3,404
Net loss on foreign currency transaction			274
Net (gain) loss on sale of property, plant and equipment	147	(634)	234
Asset impairment charge	19,031
Other	(3,815)	1,488	1,448
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Trade receivables	(44,081)	(15,701)	(21,780)
Other receivables	1,960	(1,832)	(689)
Inventories	(16,119)	(2,818)	31,412
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(8,532)	(1,659)	(1,474)
Advance royalties	765	(3,225)	(1,820)
Accounts payable	7,316	21,795	7,975
Due to affiliates	(729)	6,556	818
Accrued taxes other than income taxes	4,136	1,981	3,124
Accrued payroll and related benefits	2,625	5,103	8,670
Pneumoconiosis benefits	5,961	4,944	3,647
Workers' compensation	4,075	5,717	4,583
Other	(3,493)	(5,041)	8,089
Total net adjustments	214,998	189,762	199,724
Net cash provided by operating activities	546,224	576,105	517,025
Property, plant and equipment:
Capital expenditures	(424,631)	(321,920)	(289,874)
Changes in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(4,007)	11,640	(7,480)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	114	1,526	381
Purchases of equity investments in affiliate	(59,800)	(42,700)
Payment for acquisition of business	(100,000)
Payments to affiliate for acquisition and development of coal reserves	(34,601)	(50,800)
Advances/loans to affiliate	(5,229)
Payments from affiliate	4,229
Other	546	1,146	1,982
Net cash used in investing activities	(623,379)	(401,108)	(294,991)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Borrowings under term loan	250,000		300,000
Borrowings under revolving credit facilities	278,800		95,000
Payments under revolving credit facilities	(123,800)		(95,000)
Payment on term loan	(300,000)
Payment on long-term debt	(18,000)	(18,000)	(18,000)
Payments on capital lease obligations	(943)	(812)	(324)
Payment of debt issuance costs	(4,272)		(1,417)
Contribution by limited partner - affiliate	2,000
Net settlement of employee withholding taxes on vesting of ARLP Long-Term Incentive Plan	(3,734)	(2,324)	(1,265)
Distributions paid by consolidated partnership to noncontrolling interests	(90,277)	(78,441)	(69,138)
Distributions paid to Partners	(162,977)	(136,188)	(113,740)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(173,203)	(235,765)	96,116
EFFECT OF CURRENCY TRANSLATION ON CASH			(274)
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(250,358)	(60,768)	317,876
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD	281,469	342,237	24,361
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	$ 31,111	$ 281,469	$ 342,237