UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549

                               ------------------

                                    FORM 8-K

                           CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO
                           SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


       Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): September 2, 2004


                          COMMISSION FILE NO.: 0-26823

                        ALLIANCE RESOURCE PARTNERS, L.P.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)



           DELAWARE                                       73-1564280
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF                (IRS EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NO.)
 INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)


          1717 SOUTH BOULDER AVENUE, SUITE 600, TULSA, OKLAHOMA 74119
             (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES AND ZIP CODE)

                                 (918) 295-7600
              (REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE)


Check the appropriate below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously
satisfy the filing obligations of the registrant under any of the following
provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
    230.425)

[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
    240.14a-12)

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange
    Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange
    Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))


ITEM 8.01   OTHER EVENTS

      On September 2, 2004, Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. (the "Partnership")
announced by press release that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Hopkins County
Coal, LLC, plans to resume operations of the Newcoal surface mine, which is
located near Madisonville, Kentucky. A copy of the Partnership's press release
is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

ITEM 9.01   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

      (C) EXHIBITS

            99.1  Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. press release dated as of
                  September 2, 2004.


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                                   SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

      ALLIANCE RESOURCE PARTNERS, L.P.

By:   Alliance Resource Management GP, LLC,
      its managing general partner



By:   /s/ Joseph W. Craft III
      -----------------------
      Joseph W. Craft III
      President and Chief Executive Officer

Date: September 3, 2004


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