CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ 336,553	$ 304,158	$ 492,669
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	322,509	333,713	274,566
Non-cash compensation expense	14,229	12,854	11,560
Settlement of deferred directors compensation	(218)	(177)	(218)
Asset retirement obligations	3,769	3,192	2,730
Coal inventory adjustment to market		1,952	377
Equity in (income) loss of affiliates	(3,543)	49,046	16,648
Net gain on sale of property, plant and equipment	(76)	(1)	(4,409)
Asset impairment		100,130
Acquisition gain, net		(22,548)
Valuation allowance of deferred tax assets	(1,365)	1,557	1,636
Other	3,300	6,388	(5,151)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Trade receivables	(29,157)	64,412	(30,525)
Other receivables	417	422	16
Inventories	58,948	(31,628)	(39,103)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	17,023	(3,402)	855
Advance royalties	(2,464)	(6,915)	4,956
Accounts payable	(15,196)	(41,506)	8,775
Due to/from affiliates	778	(11,076)	(3,065)
Accrued taxes other than income taxes	2,667	(4,322)	375
Accrued payroll and related benefits	4,545	(24,527)	10,551
Pneumoconiosis benefits	447	2,808	3,743
Workers' compensation	(6,427)	(2,491)	(5,349)
Other	(6,014)	(17,631)	(6,807)
Total net adjustments	364,172	410,250	242,161
Net cash provided by operating activities	700,725	714,408	734,830
Property, plant and equipment:
Capital expenditures	(91,056)	(212,797)	(307,387)
Decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(4,402)	(3,021)	(2,270)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	1,165	2,062	381
Proceeds from insurance settlement for property, plant and equipment			4,512
Contributions to equity investments in affiliates	(76,797)	(64,540)	(111,376)
Payments for acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired	(1,011)	(74,953)
Payments to affiliate for acquisition and development of coal reserves			(4,082)
Payment for acquisition of customer contracts	(23,000)		(11,687)
Advances/loans to affiliate		(7,300)
Other	3,313	4,634	(9,313)
Net cash used in investing activities	(191,788)	(355,915)	(441,222)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Borrowings under securitization facility	44,600	6,500	100,000
Payments under securitization facility	(27,700)	(23,400)
Payments on term loan	(156,250)	(108,502)	(18,750)
Borrowings under revolving credit facilities	140,000	543,000	341,800
Payments under revolving credit facilities	(270,000)	(308,000)	(451,800)
Payments on long-term debt		(205,000)	(18,000)
Proceeds on capital lease transactions	33,881	100,000
Payments on capital lease obligations	(24,456)	(4,312)	(1,494)
Payment of debt issuance costs	(101)		(263)
Contributions to consolidated company from affiliate noncontrolling interest	3,014	2,147	481
Contribution by limited partner - affiliate	1,000	1,500	1,500
Net settlement of employee withholding taxes on vesting of ARLP Long-Term Incentive Plan	(1,336)	(2,719)	(2,991)
Distributions paid by consolidated partnership to noncontrolling interests	(89,311)	(117,362)	(108,413)
Distributions paid to Partners	(156,242)	(225,833)	(205,779)
Other	(189)	(6,108)
Net cash used in financing activities	(503,090)	(348,089)	(363,709)
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	5,847	10,404	(70,101)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD	38,678	28,274	98,375
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD	$ 44,525	$ 38,678	$ 28,274