Leases (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
lease payments [Line Items]
Capital Lease Obligations	$ 46.0us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligations	$ 20.8us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligations
Rental expense	42.9us-gaap_OperatingLeasesRentExpenseNet	42.2us-gaap_OperatingLeasesRentExpenseNet	41.2us-gaap_OperatingLeasesRentExpenseNet
Royalty expense	242.5us-gaap_RoyaltyExpense	261.1us-gaap_RoyaltyExpense	302.0us-gaap_RoyaltyExpense
lease [Member]
lease payments [Line Items]
Surety bonds outstanding	$ 49.4

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

Surety bonds outstanding to cover future obligations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount equal to the present value (the principal) at the beginning of the lease term of minimum lease payments during the lease term (excluding that portion of the payments representing executory costs such as insurance, maintenance, and taxes to be paid by the lessor, together with any profit thereon) net of payments or other amounts applied to the principal through the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Article 7

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 840

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6455398&loc=d3e45280-112737

+ Details

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

- Definition

Rental expense for the reporting period incurred under operating leases, including minimum and any contingent rent expense, net of related sublease income.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 840

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6453985&loc=d3e41499-112717

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingLeasesRentExpenseNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of expense related to royalty payments under a contractual arrangement such as payment for mineral and drilling rights and use of technology or intellectual property.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RoyaltyExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertySubjectToOrAvailableForOperatingLeaseAxis=aci_LeaseMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: