CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF PARTNERS' CAPITAL - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Limited Partners' Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Noncontrolling Interest	Total
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 448,976	$ (18,296)	$ 277,095	$ 707,775
Balance (in units) at Dec. 31, 2012	59,863,000
Comprehensive income:
Net income	$ 233,873		157,721	391,594
Actuarially determined long-term liability adjustments		14,098	18,447	32,545
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME				424,139
Vesting of ARLP Long-Term Incentive Plan			(3,015)	(3,015)
Common unit-based compensation	297		8,896	9,193
Contribution by limited partner - affiliate (Note 19)	2,200			2,200
Distributions on ARLP common unit-based compensation			(1,688)	(1,688)
Distributions to AHGP Partners	(185,276)			(185,276)
Distributions paid by consolidated partnership to noncontrolling interest			(97,735)	(97,735)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 500,070	(4,198)	359,721	855,593
Balance (in units) at Dec. 31, 2013	59,863,000
Comprehensive income:
Net income	$ 284,351		208,318	492,669
Actuarially determined long-term liability adjustments		(11,258)	(14,870)	(26,128)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME				466,541
Settlement of Directors Deferred Compensation	(218)			(218)
Vesting of ARLP Long-Term Incentive Plan			(2,991)	(2,991)
Common unit-based compensation	310		11,250	11,560
Contribution by limited partner - affiliate (Note 19)	1,500			1,500
Contributions to consolidated company from affiliate noncontrolling interest (Note 11)			481	481
Distributions on ARLP common unit-based compensation			(2,182)	(2,182)
Distributions to AHGP Partners	(205,779)			(205,779)
Distributions paid by consolidated partnership to noncontrolling interest			(106,231)	(106,231)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 580,234	(15,456)	453,496	$ 1,018,274
Balance (in units) at Dec. 31, 2014	59,863,000			59,863,000
Comprehensive income:
Net income	$ 211,312		92,846	$ 304,158
Actuarially determined long-term liability adjustments		581	709	1,290
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME				305,448
Settlement of Directors Deferred Compensation	(177)			(177)
Vesting of ARLP Long-Term Incentive Plan			(2,719)	(2,719)
Common unit-based compensation	223		12,631	12,854
Contribution by limited partner - affiliate (Note 19)	1,500			1,500
Contributions to consolidated company from affiliate noncontrolling interest (Note 11)			2,147	2,147
Distributions on ARLP common unit-based compensation			(2,627)	(2,627)
Distributions to AHGP Partners	(225,833)			(225,833)
Distributions paid by consolidated partnership to noncontrolling interest			(114,735)	(114,735)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 567,259	$ (14,875)	$ 441,748	$ 994,132
Balance (in units) at Dec. 31, 2015	59,863,000			59,863,000