ACCRUED WORKERS' COMPENSATION AND PNEUMOCONIOSIS BENEFITS - Recognized in Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
WORKERS' COMPENSATION AND PNEUMOCONIOSIS
Black lung claims	$ 64,988	$ 61,693
Workers' compensation claims	48,131	54,558	$ 57,557
Total obligations	113,119	116,251
Less current portion	(9,897)	(8,688)
Non-current obligations	$ 103,222	$ 107,563

Represents the liability for benefits payable to workers affected by coal workers pneumoconiosis.

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	ahgp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations and payables pertaining to claims incurred of a workers compensation nature. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer). Also includes, the current portion of the liability for benefits payable to workers affected by coal workers pneumoconiosis.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ahgp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations and payables pertaining to claims incurred of a workers compensation nature. Also includes the liability for benefits payable to workers affected by coal workers pneumoconiosis.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ahgp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations and payables pertaining to claims incurred of a workers compensation nature. Used to reflect the noncurrent portion of the liabilities (due after one year or the normal operating cycle if longer). Also includes the noncurrent portion of the liability for benefits payable to workers affected by coal workers pneumoconiosis.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ahgp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ahgp_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations and payables pertaining to claims incurred of a workers compensation nature.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(15)(5))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(20))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(24))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(15)(a))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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