SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended											12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Reconciliation of consolidated Segment Adjusted EBITDA to net income
Consolidated Segment Adjusted EBITDA												$ 749,214	[1],[2]	$ 658,463	[1],[2]	$ 622,813	[1],[2]
General and administrative												(65,231)		(62,713)		(54,991)
Depreciation, depletion and amortization												(264,911)		(218,122)		(160,335)
Asset impairment charge								(19,000)						(19,031)
Interest expense, net												(26,081)		(28,453)		(21,574)
Income tax (expense) benefit												(1,397)		1,082		430
NET INCOME	$ 98,887	[3]	$ 86,750	$ 103,573	$ 102,384	$ 96,126	[3]	$ 58,733	[4]	$ 93,881	$ 82,486	$ 391,594		$ 331,226		$ 386,343

[1] Segment Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income (prior to the allocation of noncontrolling interest) before net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization, asset impairment charge and general and administrative expenses. Management therefore is able to focus solely on the evaluation of segment operating profitability as it relates to the ARLP Partnership?s revenues and operating expenses, which are primarily controlled by our segments.

[2] Includes equity in income (loss) of affiliates for the year ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 of $(25.3) million, $(15.3) million and $(4.3) million, respectively, included in the White Oak segment and $0.9 million, $0.7 million and $0.8 million, respectively, included in the Other and Corporate segment.

[3] The comparability of our December 31, 2013 and 2012 quarterly results to other quarters presented were affected by a $12.9 million and $14.0 million, respectively, decrease in the ARLP Partnership's workers' compensation liability, excluding discount rate changes, due to the completion of its annual actuarial study, which reflected a favorable development in the ARLP Partnership's disability emergence patterns and claims estimates (Note 17).

[4] During the quarter ended September 30, 2012, the ARLP Partnership recorded a $19.0 million impairment of the carrying value of assets at the Pontiki mine (Note 4).