| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="windows-1252"?> |
<ownershipDocument> |
| <schemaVersion> X0306 </schemaVersion> |
| <documentType> 4 </documentType> |
| <periodOfReport> 2020-02-13 </periodOfReport> |
| <notSubjectToSection16> 0 </notSubjectToSection16> |
| <issuer> |
| | <issuerCik> 0001171486 </issuerCik> |
| | <issuerName> NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS LP </issuerName> |
| | <issuerTradingSymbol> NRP </issuerTradingSymbol> |
| | </issuer> |
| <reportingOwner> |
| | <reportingOwnerId> |
| | | <rptOwnerCik> 0001635057 </rptOwnerCik> |
| | | <rptOwnerName> Zolas Christopher </rptOwnerName> |
| | | </reportingOwnerId> |
| | <reportingOwnerAddress> |
| | | <rptOwnerStreet1> 1201 LOUISIANA STREET </rptOwnerStreet1> |
| | | <rptOwnerStreet2> SUITE 3400 </rptOwnerStreet2> |
| | | <rptOwnerCity> HOUSTON </rptOwnerCity> |
| | | <rptOwnerState> TX </rptOwnerState> |
| | | <rptOwnerZipCode> 77002 </rptOwnerZipCode> |
| | | <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription> |
| | | </reportingOwnerAddress> |
| | <reportingOwnerRelationship> |
| | | <isDirector> 0 </isDirector> |
| | | <isOfficer> 1 </isOfficer> |
| | | <isTenPercentOwner> 0 </isTenPercentOwner> |
| | | <isOther> 0 </isOther> |
| | | <officerTitle> Chief Accounting Officer </officerTitle> |
| | | <otherText></otherText> |
| | | </reportingOwnerRelationship> |
| | </reportingOwner> |
| <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable> |
| <derivativeTable> |
| | <derivativeTransaction> |
| | | <securityTitle> |
| <value> Phantom Units </value> |
| <footnoteId id="F1"/> |
| </securityTitle> |
| | | <conversionOrExercisePrice> |
| <footnoteId id="F1"/> |
| </conversionOrExercisePrice> |
| | | <transactionDate> |
| <value> 2020-02-13 </value> |
| </transactionDate> |
| | | <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate> |
| | | <transactionCoding> |
| <transactionFormType> 4 </transactionFormType> |
| <transactionCode> A </transactionCode> |
| <equitySwapInvolved> 0 </equitySwapInvolved> |
| </transactionCoding> |
| | | <transactionAmounts> |
| <transactionShares> |
| <value> 16104 </value> |
| </transactionShares> |
| <transactionPricePerShare> |
| <value> 0 </value> |
| </transactionPricePerShare> |
| <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode> |
| <value> A </value> |
| </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode> |
| </transactionAmounts> |
| | | <exerciseDate> |
| <footnoteId id="F2"/> |
| </exerciseDate> |
| | | <expirationDate> |
| <footnoteId id="F2"/> |
| </expirationDate> |
| | | <underlyingSecurity> |
| <underlyingSecurityTitle> |
| <value> Common Units </value> |
| </underlyingSecurityTitle> |
| <underlyingSecurityShares> |
| <value> 16104 </value> |
| </underlyingSecurityShares> |
| </underlyingSecurity> |
| | | <postTransactionAmounts> |
| <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| <value> 16104 </value> |
| </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| </postTransactionAmounts> |
| | | <ownershipNature> |
| <directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| <value> D </value> |
| </directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| </ownershipNature> |
| | | </derivativeTransaction> |
| | </derivativeTable> |
| <footnotes> |
| | <footnote id="F1"> Represents phantom units awarded under the issuer's 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan. Each phantom unit represents the right to receive one common unit upon vesting and includes the right to receive tandem distribution equivalent rights, pursuant to which the quarterly distributions paid by the partnership on each unit will be accrued over the vesting period and paid in cash upon vesting. </footnote> |
| | <footnote id="F2"> The phantom units will vest in three substantially equal annual installments beginning on February 13, 2021. </footnote> |
| | </footnotes> |
| <ownerSignature> |
| | <signatureName> /s/ Christopher J. Zolas </signatureName> |
| | <signatureDate> 2020-02-14 </signatureDate> |
| | </ownerSignature> |
| </ownershipDocument> |