CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
SALES AND OPERATING REVENUES:
Coal sales	$ 382,262	$ 422,469	$ 821,006	$ 823,761
Transportation revenues	7,328	5,482	16,924	12,040
Other sales and operating revenues	9,029	11,090	21,694	15,965
Total revenues	398,619	439,041	859,624	851,766
EXPENSES:
Operating expenses (excluding depreciation, depletion and amortization)	238,668	251,947	501,460	515,526
Transportation expenses	7,328	5,482	16,924	12,040
General and administrative	15,324	18,635	31,771	36,188
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	59,020	73,697	124,147	144,304
Total operating expenses	320,340	349,761	674,302	708,058
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS	78,279	89,280	185,322	143,708
Interest expense (net of interest capitalized for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 of $166, $46, $247 and $273, respectively)	(10,615)	(7,770)	(18,131)	(15,385)
Interest income	56	4	81	8
Equity in income (loss) of affiliates	2,916	(37)	6,616	(64)
Debt extinguishment loss	(8,148)		(8,148)
Other income	389	161	1,687	252
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	62,877	81,638	167,427	128,519
INCOME TAX EXPENSE (BENEFIT)	5	6	(7)	(2)
NET INCOME	62,872	81,632	167,434	128,521
LESS: NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	(20,289)	(36,259)	(69,840)	(52,306)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO ALLIANCE HOLDINGS GP, L.P. ("NET INCOME OF AHGP")	$ 42,583	$ 45,373	$ 97,594	$ 76,215
BASIC NET INCOME OF AHGP PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.71	$ 0.76	$ 1.63	$ 1.27
DILUTED NET INCOME OF AHGP PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT (in dollars per unit)	0.71	0.76	1.63	1.27
DISTRIBUTIONS PAID PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.55	$ 0.55	$ 1.10	$ 1.51
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