CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
SALES AND OPERATING REVENUES:
Coal sales	$ 533,817	$ 547,466	$ 1,357,578	$ 1,632,493
Transportation revenues	7,692	9,395	19,732	24,323
Other sales and operating revenues	10,457	9,481	26,422	74,445
Total revenues	551,966	566,342	1,403,732	1,731,261
EXPENSES:
Operating expenses (excluding depreciation, depletion and amortization)	347,711	336,527	847,513	1,045,954
Transportation expenses	7,692	9,395	19,732	24,323
Outside coal purchases	1,514	2	1,514	326
General and administrative	18,987	18,356	55,175	53,659
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	80,612	84,661	240,640	242,730
Asset impairment		10,695		10,695
Total operating expenses	456,516	459,636	1,164,574	1,377,687
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS	95,450	106,706	239,158	353,574
Interest expense (net of interest capitalized for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 of $47, $152, $320 and $518, respectively)	(8,001)	(7,352)	(23,386)	(23,626)
Interest income	3	286	11	1,422
Equity in income (loss) of affiliates, net	1,105	(17,221)	1,041	(49,049)
Other income	293	455	545	750
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	88,850	82,874	217,369	283,071
INCOME TAX EXPENSE (BENEFIT)	6	12	4	18
NET INCOME	88,844	82,862	217,365	283,053
LESS: NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	(40,337)	(26,765)	(92,643)	(100,476)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO ALLIANCE HOLDINGS GP, L.P. ("NET INCOME OF AHGP")	$ 48,507	$ 56,097	$ 124,722	$ 182,577
BASIC NET INCOME OF AHGP PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.81	$ 0.94	$ 2.08	$ 3.05
DILUTED NET INCOME OF AHGP PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT (in dollars per unit)	0.81	0.94	2.08	3.05
DISTRIBUTIONS PAID PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.55	$ 0.96	$ 2.06	$ 2.8125
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF UNITS OUTSTANDING – BASIC (in units)	59,863,000	59,863,000	59,863,000	59,863,000
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF UNITS OUTSTANDING - DILUTED (in units)	59,863,000	59,863,000	59,863,000	59,863,000