-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Vv0iZ3S1N+LQlyKu2sLAQjMq/naRO4U0jlGlQ5JoUX7GrCYUUrCfhpAdc1Ia+jm4
 MMg5jPHoGvQzRbVlV4aPWw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140361-03-005094.txt : 20031223
<SEC-HEADER>0001140361-03-005094.hdr.sgml : 20031223
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031223153546
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140361-03-005094
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031222
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031223

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS LP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001171486
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BITUMINOUS COAL & LIGNITE MINING [1220]
		IRS NUMBER:				352164875
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		601 JEFFERSON STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 3600
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7137517514

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		601 JEFFERSON STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 3600
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ARCH COAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001037676
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BITUMINOUS COAL & LIGNITE SURFACE MINING [1221]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31465
		FILM NUMBER:		031070948

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CITY PLACE ONE STE 300
		STREET 2:		ARCH MINERAL CORP
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63141
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3149942700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CITYPLACE ONE SUITE 300
		STREET 2:		ARCH MINERAL CORP
		CITY:			CREVE COEUR
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63141

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ARCH MINERAL CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19970411

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ARK LAND CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001271501
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31465
		FILM NUMBER:		031070947

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE CITY PLACE DRIVE
		STREET 2:		STE 300
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63141
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3149942725

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE CITY PLACE DRIVE
		STREET 2:		STE 300
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63141
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-12-22</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001171486</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS LP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NRP</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001037676</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ARCH COAL INC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>CITYPLACE ONE, SUITE 300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ST. LOUIS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>63141</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001271501</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ARK LAND CO</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>CITY PLACE ONE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ST. LOUIS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>63141</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<derivativeTable>
<derivativeHolding>
<securityTitle>
<value>Subordinated Units</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"/>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice>
<footnoteId id="F1"/>
<footnoteId id="F3"/>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate>
<footnoteId id="F1"/>
<footnoteId id="F3"/>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate>
<footnoteId id="F1"/>
<footnoteId id="F3"/>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity>
<underlyingSecurityTitle>
<value>Common Units</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"/>
<footnoteId id="F3"/>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares>
<value>0</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"/>
<footnoteId id="F3"/>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>0</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"/>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>I</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"/>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value>By Ark Land</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"/>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
<derivativeHolding>
<securityTitle>
<value>Phantom Units</value>
<footnoteId id="F5"/>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice>
<footnoteId id="F4"/>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate>
<footnoteId id="F5"/>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate>
<footnoteId id="F5"/>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity>
<underlyingSecurityTitle>
<value>Common Units</value>
<footnoteId id="F4"/>
<footnoteId id="F5"/>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares>
<value>2716</value>
<footnoteId id="F4"/>
<footnoteId id="F5"/>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>2716</value>
<footnoteId id="F5"/>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes>
<footnote id="F1">The 4,796,720 subordinated units held by Ark Land and reported by Arch Coal, Inc. were sold December 22, 2003 for $111,000,000.  Arch Coal, Inc. no longer has an interest in any subordinated units of NRP.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">On October 17, 2002, Ark Land Company, in connection with the initial public offering of the issuer, contributed to the issuer its equity interest as an affiliated entity of the Issuer in exchange for Common and Subordinated Units.</footnote>
<footnote id="F3">Not Applicable</footnote>
<footnote id="F4">The phantom units will be paid in cash based on the market value of the common units on the date of vesting.</footnote>
<footnote id="F5">On August 19, 2003, Arch received 4,075 phantom units payable exclusively in cash as director compensation for Steven F. Leer.  Mr. Leer assigned these phantom units to Arch Coal pursuant to a pre-existing agreement.  The phantom units vest on the following anniversary dates: 1,359 units on October 18, 2003 (already vested and paid in cash), 1,358 units on 10/18/2004, and 1,358 units on 10/18/2005.  Due to Mr. Leer resigning from the board of directors following the sale of the subordinated units noted above, the remaining phantom units are hereby cancelled.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<remarks></remarks>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>Robert G. Jones, Secretary</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-12-23</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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