Total of all Partners' Capital (deficit) items which is directly or indirectly attributable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent (noncontrolling interest, minority interest).

Reference 1: 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(31))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 5.F)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187171-122770

Reference 4: 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(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 5: 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)(24))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 272
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6373374&loc=d3e70434-108055

Name:	us-gaap_PartnersCapitalAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS - Partners' Capital (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 1999
Noncontrolling Interest
Noncontrolling interests	$ 516,122	$ 441,748
ARLP
Noncontrolling Interest
Units owned by parent	31,088,338
Accumulated other comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
Noncontrolling Interest
Noncontrolling interests	$ (21,990)	(19,682)
SGP
Noncontrolling Interest
Noncontrolling interests	$ (303,818)	(303,822)	$ (303,900)
SGP \| ARLP
Noncontrolling Interest
Ownership percentage by noncontrolling owners	0.01%
SGP \| Intermediate Partnership
Noncontrolling Interest
Ownership percentage by noncontrolling owners	0.01%
Non-Affiliates (ARLP's non-affiliate limited partners)
Noncontrolling Interest
Noncontrolling interests	$ 836,380	762,667
Affiliate (Cavalier Minerals)
Noncontrolling Interest
Noncontrolling interests	$ 5,550	$ 2,585