CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF PARTNERS' CAPITAL - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Limited Partners' Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Noncontrolling Interest	Total
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 18)	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
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 18)	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
Comprehensive income:
Net income	$ 185,934		150,619	$ 336,553
Actuarially determined long-term liability adjustments		(1,675)	(2,308)	(3,983)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME				332,570
Settlement of Directors Deferred Compensation	(218)			(218)
Vesting of ARLP Long-Term Incentive Plan			(1,336)	(1,336)
Common unit-based compensation	344		13,885	14,229
Contribution by limited partner - affiliate (Note 18)	1,000			1,000
Contributions to consolidated company from affiliate noncontrolling interest (Note 11)			3,014	3,014
Distributions on ARLP common unit-based compensation			(3,355)	(3,355)
Distributions to consolidate company from affiliate noncontrolling interest (Note 11)			(189)	(189)
Distributions to AHGP Partners	(156,242)			(156,242)
Distributions paid by consolidated partnership to noncontrolling interest			(85,956)	(85,956)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 598,077	$ (16,550)	$ 516,122	$ 1,097,649
Balance (in units) at Dec. 31, 2016	59,863,000			59,863,000