RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended				1 Months Ended			12 Months Ended												12 Months Ended													1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2007	Dec. 31, 2013 ARLP	Dec. 31, 2012 ARLP	Dec. 31, 2011 ARLP	Dec. 31, 2013 ARLP White Oak	Dec. 31, 2012 ARLP White Oak	Dec. 31, 2013 AGP Partnership agreement	Dec. 31, 2012 AGP Partnership agreement	Dec. 31, 2011 AGP Partnership agreement	Dec. 31, 2013 ARH II Administrative Services Agreement	Dec. 31, 2012 ARH II Administrative Services Agreement	Dec. 31, 2011 ARH II Administrative Services Agreement	Dec. 31, 2013 Affiliated entity controlled by Mr. Craft	Dec. 31, 2012 Affiliated entity controlled by Mr. Craft	Dec. 31, 2011 Affiliated entity controlled by Mr. Craft	Mar. 01, 2012 SGP Land, LLC Airplanes item	Dec. 31, 2012 SGP Land, LLC ARLP	Dec. 31, 2011 SGP Land, LLC ARLP	Dec. 31, 2013 SGP Land, LLC MC Mining LLC	Dec. 31, 2012 SGP Land, LLC MC Mining LLC	Dec. 31, 2011 SGP Land, LLC MC Mining LLC	Dec. 31, 2013 JC Land	Dec. 31, 2012 JC Land	Dec. 31, 2013 SGP Tunnel Ridge Coal lease	Dec. 31, 2012 SGP Tunnel Ridge Coal lease	Dec. 31, 2011 SGP Tunnel Ridge Coal lease	Dec. 31, 2013 SGP Tunnel Ridge Surface land and other tangible assets lease	Dec. 31, 2012 SGP Tunnel Ridge Surface land and other tangible assets lease	Dec. 31, 2011 SGP Tunnel Ridge Surface land and other tangible assets lease	Jan. 31, 2011 SGP Gibson County Coal	Dec. 31, 2013 SGP Gibson County Coal	Dec. 31, 2012 SGP Gibson County Coal	Dec. 31, 2011 SGP Gibson County Coal
Related Party Transaction
Outstanding common units				47,863,000
Expenses under related party agreement										$ 500,000	$ 400,000	$ 400,000
Revenue from services								2,400,000	1,000,000				100,000	100,000	200,000
Contributions from affiliates for general and administrative expenses	2,200,000	2,000,000	5,000,000		2,200,000	2,000,000	5,000,000									2,200,000	2,000,000	5,000,000
Number of airplanes acquired in merger																			2
Number of airplanes acquired, previously subject to time sharing agreement																			1
Cost of airplanes acquired																			8,000,000
Amount received for use of aircraft																									100,000	100,000
Amount paid for use of aircraft																				300,000	1,000,000				300,000	100,000
Amount received for reimbursement of pilot compensation expense																									100,000
Annual minimum royalties																						300,000					3,000,000
Cumulative annual minimum and/or earned royalty payments																						6,000,000
Payments for royalties																						1,900,000	400,000	300,000			3,000,000	3,000,000	3,000,000
Advance royalties	30,267,000	34,759,000																				800,000					17,100,000
Lease payment																														200,000	200,000	200,000		600,000	600,000	800,000
Lease agreement term																														4 years
Monthly lease payment																																	$ 200,000	$ 50,000