CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ 304,158	$ 492,669	$ 391,594
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	333,713	274,566	264,911
Non-cash compensation expense	12,854	11,560	9,193
Settlement of deferred directors compensation	(177)	(218)
Asset retirement obligations	3,192	2,730	3,004
Coal inventory adjustment to market	1,952	377	2,811
Equity in loss of affiliates, net	49,046	16,648	24,441
Net (gain) loss on sale of property, plant and equipment	(1)	(4,409)	3,475
Asset impairment	100,130
Acquisition gain, net	(22,548)
Valuation allowance of deferred tax assets	1,557	1,636	3,483
Other	6,388	(5,151)	(6,251)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Trade receivables	64,412	(30,525)	19,062
Other receivables	422	16	243
Inventories	(31,628)	(39,103)	(795)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(3,402)	855	4,290
Advance royalties	(6,915)	4,956	4,492
Accounts payable	(41,506)	8,775	(17,858)
Due to/from affiliates	(11,076)	(3,065)	(1,364)
Accrued taxes other than income taxes	(4,322)	375	(947)
Accrued payroll and related benefits	(24,527)	10,551	8,604
Pneumoconiosis benefits	2,808	3,743	5,944
Workers' compensation	(2,491)	(5,349)	(14,092)
Other	(17,631)	(6,807)	(1,321)
Total net adjustments	410,250	242,161	311,325
Net cash provided by operating activities	714,408	734,830	702,919
Property, plant and equipment:
Capital expenditures	(212,797)	(307,387)	(329,151)
Changes in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(3,021)	(2,270)	(3,048)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	2,062	381	1,520
Proceeds from insurance settlement for property, plant and equipment		4,512
Purchases of equity investments in affiliates	(64,540)	(111,376)	(62,500)
Payments for acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired - (Note 3)	(74,953)
Payments to affiliate for acquisition and development of coal reserves		(4,082)	(25,272)
Payment for acquisition of customer contracts		(11,687)
Advances/loans to affiliate	(7,300)		(7,500)
Other	4,634	(9,313)
Net cash used in investing activities	(355,915)	(441,222)	(425,951)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Borrowings under securitization facility	6,500	100,000
Payments under securitization facility	(23,400)
Payments on term loans	(108,502)	(18,750)
Borrowings under revolving credit facilities	543,000	341,800	386,000
Payments under revolving credit facilities	(308,000)	(451,800)	(291,000)
Payment on long-term debt	(205,000)	(18,000)	(18,000)
Proceeds on capital lease transaction	100,000
Payments on capital lease obligations	(4,312)	(1,494)	(1,190)
Payment of debt issuance costs		(263)
Contribution to consolidated company from affiliate noncontrolling interest	2,147	481
Contribution by limited partner - affiliate	1,500	1,500	2,200
Net settlement of employee withholding taxes on vesting of ARLP Long-Term Incentive Plan	(2,719)	(2,991)	(3,015)
Distributions paid by consolidated partnership to noncontrolling interests	(117,362)	(108,413)	(99,423)
Distributions paid to Partners	(225,833)	(205,779)	(185,276)
Other	(6,108)
Net cash used in financing activities	(348,089)	(363,709)	(209,704)
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	10,404	(70,101)	67,264
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD	28,274	98,375	31,111
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	$ 38,678	$ 28,274	$ 98,375