EXHIBIT 99.1

NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.                                        [NRP LOGO]
601 JEFFERSON ST., SUITE 3600, HOUSTON, TX 77002

NEWS RELEASE

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                         NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
                               ACQUIRES ADDITIONAL
                             KENTUCKY COAL RESERVES

HOUSTON, NOVEMBER 25, 2003 - NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P. (NYSE: NRP) today
announced an acquisition of Kentucky coal reserves and related interests for a
purchase price of $18.8 million. The acquisition includes approximately 23
million tons of coal reserves, an additional royalty interest in approximately 5
million tons of coal reserves on contiguous property, and a wheelage fee on 10
million tons of coal. The acquisition will be funded through the partnership's
credit facility.

These coal reserves are located in Perry, Letcher and Knott counties in
Kentucky. As a result of the acquisition, NRP anticipates an incremental
increase in coal royalty revenues of approximately $2.5 million to $2.7 million
in the first year, increasing in the second year to approximately $3.3 million
to $3.7 million.

Natural Resource Partners L.P. is headquartered in Houston, TX, with its
operations headquarters in Huntington, WV. NRP is a master limited partnership
that is principally engaged in the business of owning and managing coal
properties in the three major coal producing regions of the United States:
Appalachia, the Illinois Basin and the Powder River Basin.

For additional information, please contact Kathy Hager at 713-751-7555 or
khager@nrplp.com. Further information about NRP is available on the
partnership's website at http://www.nrplp.com.

This press release may include "forward-looking statements" as defined by the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Such statements include the anticipated
revenues and the coal reserves associated with the transaction. All statements,
other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that
address activities, events or developments that the partnership expects,
believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking
statements. These statements are based on certain assumptions made by the
partnership based on its experience and perception of historical trends, current
conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are
appropriate in the circumstances. Such statements are subject to a number of
assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of
the partnership. These risks include, but are not limited to, decreases in
demand for coal; changes in operating conditions and costs; production cuts by
our lessees; commodity prices; unanticipated geologic problems; changes in the
legislative or regulatory environment and other factors detailed in Natural
Resource Partners' Securities and Exchange Commission filings.


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