Asset Retirement Obligations (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
asset retirement obligations [Line Items]
Adjustments to the liability from changes in estimates	$ 100,728,000	$ 23,215,000
Surety bonds outstanding	30,400,000
Letters of credit outstanding	0
Cash collateral for surety bond	600,000
Asset retirement obligations
asset retirement obligations [Line Items]
Surety bonds outstanding	536,200,000
Black Thunder Mine
asset retirement obligations [Line Items]
Adjustments to the liability from changes in estimates	$ 95,600,000

asset retirement obligations [Line Items]

No definition available.

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- Definition

Surety bonds outstanding to cover future obligations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	aci_
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- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) in the asset retirement obligation from changes in the amount or timing of the estimated cash flows associated with the settlement of the obligation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 20
-Section 35
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392603&loc=d3e7123-110846

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)(4)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392692&loc=d3e7535-110849

+ Details

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- Definition

Carrying value of amounts transferred to third parties for security purposes that are expected to be returned or applied towards payment after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.17)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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- Definition

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Details

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- Details

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