THIS
SECURED PROMISSORY NOTE (this “Note”) HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED,
OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER SUCH ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR PURSUANT TO AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENTS OF SUCH ACT AND SUCH LAWS.


 


SECURED
PROMISSORY NOTE


 





	$2,000,000.00	December 30, 2016



 


FOR
VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, Royal Energy Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Maker”), hereby
promises to pay to the order of Weston Energy LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Payee”), the
principal sum of TWO MILLION DOLLARS AND ZERO CENTS ($2,000,000.00), on the terms set forth herein. The Maker shall also pay interest
at the Interest Rate (defined below) (a) from the date hereof until paid in full, on the unpaid principal balance hereof, and
(b) from the date due until paid in full, on the accrued interest hereon and all other amounts owing hereunder. “Interest
Rate” means a rate of eight percent (8.00%) per annum, based on a 365/366-day year and actual days elapsed; provided,
however, that if any amount on this Note is not paid when due, the Interest Rate shall increase by three percent (3.00%) per annum
(to a total of eleven percent (11.00%) per annum) until such amount is paid. Principal and accrued interest shall be due and payable
on January 15, 2017.


 


All
payments shall be made either, at the Payee’s option, (a) in lawful money of the United States of America or (b) by a Common
Equity Transfer, in each case at the principal office of the Payee, or at such other place as the holder hereof may from time
to time designate in writing to the Maker; provided, however, that if the AEI Investment has been made, the Maker may, at its
option, pay this Note in full pursuant to a Preferred Equity Transfer. All payments shall be credited first, to amounts
due hereunder other than principal and interest, second, to accrued interest hereon and then to principal hereof.
Any payment that is due on a day that is not a Business Day shall instead be due on the next-succeeding business day on which
banks are not so required or authorized to close.


 


The
Maker may prepay the outstanding principal balance of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, this Note, in whole or in part, at
any time and from time to time, without premium or penalty. Any such prepayment shall be made together with payment of interest
accrued on the amount of principal being prepaid through the date of such prepayment. If all or any portion of this Note is paid
or prepaid, then the amount so repaid may not be re-borrowed.


 


As
used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:


 


“AEI”
means Armstrong Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation.


 




    	 	1	 



    	 



    

 


“AEI
Investment” means the investment in Preferred Equity Units by the Payee or any of its Affiliates after the Closing Date
of at least $28,000,000 in the aggregate in connection with the AEI Transaction.


 


“AEI
Transaction” means a transactions or series or related transactions pursuant to which the Payee or any of its Affiliates
exchange shares of common stock of AEI for Common Units, all on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Payee in its sole discretion.


 


“Affiliate”
means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under direct or indirect
common control with such Person. A Person shall be deemed to control a second Person if such first Person possesses, directly
or indirectly, the power (i) to vote five percent (5%) or more of the securities having ordinary voting power for the election
of directors or managers of such second Person or (ii) to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such
second Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.


 


“Bankruptcy
Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code entitled “Bankruptcy,” as now or hereafter in effect, or
any successor thereto, as hereafter amended.


 


“Business
Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are
authorized or required by law to close.


 


“Closing
Date” means the date of this Note.


 


“Common
Equity Transfer” means the transfer by the Maker to the Payee or, at the Payee’s option, to an Affiliate of the
Payee, of a number of Common Units (rounded up to the nearest whole number) equal to (a) the outstanding principal amount of this
Note plus and all accrued interest divided by (b) the Discount Price.


 


“Common
Unit” has the meaning set forth in the Rhino Partnership Agreement as in effect on the Closing Date.


 


“Discount
Price” means, as of the date of demand for payment hereunder, an amount equal to the average VWAP for the Equity Interests
of Rhino for the period consisting of twenty (20) Trading Days preceding such date of demand multiplied by four-fifths (4/5th);
provided, however, that in no event shall such amount be equal to or less than zero dollars ($0.00).


 


“Equity
Interests” has the meaning provided in the Security Agreement.


 


“Indebtedness”
means: (a) all indebtedness of the Maker for the repayment of borrowed money, whether or not represented by bonds, debentures,
notes or similar instruments, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon; (b) all other indebtedness of the Maker evidenced
by bonds, debentures, notes, guarantees or similar instruments, including all accrued and unpaid interest thereon; and (c) all
obligations of the Maker as lessee or lessees under leases that have been recorded by the Maker as capital leases in accordance
with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. For the avoidance of doubt trade payables and accrued compensation and expenses,
in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business, shall not constitute Indebtedness.


 




    	 	2	 



    	 



    

 


“Lien”
means any lien, security interest or other charge or encumbrance of any kind, or any other type of preferential arrangement including,
without limitation the lien or retained security title of a conditional vendor and any easement, right of way or other encumbrance
on title to real property.


 


“Loan
Documents” means, collectively, this Note, the Security Agreement, each Securities Account Control Agreement (as defined
in the Security Agreement) and each other agreement, document or instrument delivered in connection herewith or therewith.


 


“Person”
means any individual, partnership, joint venture, firm, corporation, limited liability company, association, central bank, trust
or other enterprise or any governmental or political subdivision or any agency, department or instrumentality thereof.


 


“Preferred
Equity Transfer” means the transfer by the Maker to the Payee or, at the Payee’s option, to an Affiliate of the
Payee, of a number of Preferred Equity Units (rounded up to the nearest whole number) equal to the outstanding principal amount
of this Note and all accrued and unpaid interest hereon, all at the Maker’s expense, in accordance with applicable laws
and pursuant to procedures satisfactory to the Payee in its sole discretion.


 


“Preferred
Equity Units” means a series of preferred equity interests to be authorized by Rhino after the Closing Date with terms
satisfactory to the Payee in its sole discretion.


 


“Rhino”
means Rhino Resource Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership.


 


“Rhino
Partnership Agreement” means the Third Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement of Limited Partnership of Rhino Resource
Partners LP.


 


“Security
Agreement” means the Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, made by the Maker in favor of the Payee
and accepted by the Payee.


 


“Short
Sales” means all “short sales” as defined in Rule 200 of Regulation SHO under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (but shall not be deemed to include the location and/or reservation of borrowable shares of Common Stock).


 


“Trading
Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which the Trading Market lists the price of, or conducts
trades of, the Equity Interests of Rhino.


 


“Trading
Market” means any one of the following markets or exchanges on which the Common Units are listed or quoted for trading
on the date in question: the Nasdaq SmallCap Market, the American Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq National
Market.


 


“VWAP”
means, for any Trading Day, the price determined as follows: (a) if on such Trading Day the Common Units are then listed or quoted
on a Trading Market, the daily volume weighted average price of the Common Units for such Trading Day on the Trading Market on
which the Common Units are then listed or quoted as reported by Bloomberg Financial L.P. (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m.
Eastern Time to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time); and (b) if clause (a) does not apply on such Trading Day, the average of the high and
low price of the Common Units for such Trading Day as listed or quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board or OTC Markets, LLC.


 




    	 	3	 



    	 



    

 


The
following are events of default under this Note (each, an “Event of Default”):


 


(i)
The Maker shall fail to make when due any payment of principal, interest or other amount under this Note.


 


(ii)
Any representation or warranty made by the Maker herein, in any other Loan Documents or in any other agreement, document,
instrument or certificate furnished by the Maker to Payee proves untrue as of the date hereof or omits any statement
necessary to make the statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not false or
misleading.


 


(iii)
(A) The Maker shall commence a voluntary case concerning itself under the Bankruptcy Code; (B) an involuntary case is
commenced against the Maker and the petition is not contested within fifteen (15) days, or is not dismissed or stayed within
sixty (60) days, after commencement of the case; (C) a custodian (as defined in the Bankruptcy Code) is appointed for, or
takes charge of, all or substantially all of the property of the Maker or the Maker commences any other proceedings under any
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of debt, relief of debtors, dissolution, insolvency or liquidation or similar law of
any jurisdiction whether now or hereafter in effect relating to the Maker or there is commenced against the Maker any such
proceeding which remains undismissed and unstayed for a period of sixty (60) days; (D) any order of relief or other order
approving any such case or proceeding is entered; (E) the Maker is adjudicated insolvent or bankrupt; (F) the Maker suffers
any appointment of any custodian or the like for it or any substantial part of its property to continue undischarged and
unstayed for a period of thirty (30) days; (G) the Maker makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; (H) the
Maker shall by any act or failure to act consent to, approve of or acquiesce in any of the foregoing; or (I) any corporate
action is taken by the Maker for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing.


 


(iv)
Any judgment, writ or warrant of attachment or of any similar post-judgment process in an amount in excess of Two Hundred
Fifty Thousand and no/100 Dollars ($250,000) shall be entered or filed against the Maker or against any of its properties or
assets and remain unsatisfied and unstayed for a period of thirty (30) days;


 


(v)
The Maker dissolves, liquidates or otherwise ceases to actively conduct business or takes corporate action authorizing any of
the foregoing.


 


(vi)
The Maker shall fail in any material respect to comply with any law, rule, regulation or order to which it or its assets are
subject if such failure to comply is reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Maker to repay
this Note.


 




    	 	4	 



    	 



    

 


(vii)
The Maker shall fail to comply with any covenant contained in the Security Agreement or in any other Loan
Document.


 


Within
five (5) business days of receiving knowledge of any condition, event or act that would, or with the giving of notice or lapse
of time would, constitute any Event of Default, the Maker shall give written notice thereof to the Payee.


 


Upon
the occurrence of any Event of Default, then, and in any such event, the Payee may, by notice to the Maker, declare this Note,
all interest hereon and all other amounts payable hereunder to be forthwith due and payable, whereupon this Note, all such interest
and all such amounts shall become and be forthwith due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or further notice of
any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Maker; provided that if any Event of Default under sub-paragraph
(iv) above occurs, this Note, all such interest and all such amounts shall automatically become and be due and payable, without
presentment, demand, protest or any notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Maker.


 


No
right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Payee is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy available
with respect hereto or to a default hereunder. Every such right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative
and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise.
No assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder shall prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other
right or remedy. No delay by the Payee in exercising or omission of the Payee to exercise any right or remedy accruing hereunder
shall constitute a waiver of any such right or remedy or acquiescence in any default. Every such right or remedy may be exercised
from time to time, as often as may be expedient, by the Payee.


 


No
failure on the part of the Payee to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right hereunder or under this Note shall operate
as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right preclude any other or further exercise thereof
or the exercise of any other right. The remedies herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by
law.


 


The
Maker represents and warrants to the Payee as follows:


 


(i)
The Maker is a corporation duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has all requisite
power and authority to own or use its properties and assets and to carry on its business operations as now conducted and as
currently proposed to be conducted.


 


(ii)
The Maker has all power and authority to enter into this Note, and that this Note and the transactions contemplated herein
have been authorized by all action required under its certificate of incorporation, by-laws or otherwise under any agreement,
document or applicable law. Neither the execution and delivery by the Maker of this Note nor the consummation or performance
by the Maker of the transactions contemplated by this Note to be consummated or performed by it (i) results or will result in
any violation of the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the Maker or other organizational or governing documents of
the Maker; or (ii) violates or conflicts with, or constitutes a breach of any of the terms or provisions of or a default
under, or results in the creation or imposition of any lien upon any property or asset of the Maker, the trigger of any
charge, payment or requirement of consent, or the acceleration or increase of the maturity of any payment date under: (A) any
contract or (B) any applicable law or order to which the Maker or any of their respective properties is subject.


 




    	 	5	 



    	 



    

 


(iii)
Except as incurred hereunder, or as set forth in Schedule A hereto, the Maker has incurred no Indebtedness.


 


While
this Note remains outstanding, the Maker covenants to the Payee as follows:


 


		(i)	The
                                         Maker will apply the proceeds of this Note to the uses described on Schedule B
                                         and for no other purposes.
	 	 	 
		(ii)	Except
                                         for this Note, and except for loans from Affiliates and loans from third parties in the
                                         form of convertible notes, the Maker will not, directly or indirectly, create, incur,
                                         assume, guarantee, acquire, become liable, contingently or otherwise, with respect to,
                                         or otherwise become responsible for payment of any Indebtedness or indebtedness of any
                                         other person or entity.
	 	 	 
		(iii)	The
                                         Maker will not, directly or indirectly, (i) declare or pay any dividend or make any distribution
                                         to Maker’s shareholders; (ii) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for
                                         value any of the Maker’s stock; or (iii) make any payment (whether for principal,
                                         premium, if any, or interest) on, purchase, defease, redeem, prepay, decrease or otherwise
                                         acquire or retire for value, prior to any scheduled final maturity, scheduled repayment
                                         or scheduled sinking fund payment, any Indebtedness of the Maker.
	 	 	 
		(iv)	The
                                         Maker will not, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, consolidate
                                         or merge with or into any entity, or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey, encumber
                                         or otherwise dispose of any of its assets other than inventory or obsolete or worn-out
                                         equipment sold in the ordinary course of the Maker’s business, to any person or
                                         entity.
	 	 	 
		(v)	The
                                         Maker shall not, after the date hereof, create or incur or, except for Liens in favor
                                         of the Payee and Liens arising with respect to taxes that are not yet due and payable,
                                         assume or suffer to exist, any Lien on or with respect to any of its properties of any
                                         character (real, personal or other) (including without limitation accounts) whether now
                                         owned or hereafter acquired, or sign or file or, except with respect to Liens existing
                                         in favor of the Payee, suffer to exist, under the Uniform Commercial Code of any jurisdiction,
                                         a financing statement that names the Maker as debtor, or sign or suffer to exist, or
                                         permit any of its subsidiaries to sign or suffer to exist, any security agreement authorizing
                                         any secured party thereunder to file such financing statement, other than the Payee,
                                         or assign any accounts or other right to receive income.



 




    	 	6	 



    	 



    

 


The
Maker shall cause a Form 1099-INT to be issued to the Payee with respect to the interest paid under this Note during the tax year
ended December 31, 2016 on or before January 31, 2017 and by each January 31 for each December 31 thereafter.


 


The
Payee shall deliver a duly executed IRS Form W-9 to the Maker concurrently with the delivery by the Maker to Payee of this Note.


 


From
the date of this Note until January 15, 2017, the Payee shall not effect Short Sales of the Common Units.


 


This
Note shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York. The Maker: (i) agrees that any legal
suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Note will be instituted exclusively in state or Federal courts located
in New York County in the State of New York; (ii) waives any objection that it may have with respect to venue or forum non
conveniens in any such suit, action or proceeding; and (iii) irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of the state and Federal
courts located in New York County in the State of New York in any such suit, action or proceeding. Each of the parties hereto
further agrees to accept and acknowledge service of any and all process which may be served in any such suit, action or proceeding
and agree that service of process upon such party mailed by certified mail to such party’s address will be deemed in every
respect effective service of process upon such party in any such suit, action or proceeding. A final judgment in any such action
or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided
by law. Nothing in this Note shall affect any right that the Payee may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating
to this Note in the courts of any jurisdiction.


 


THE
PARTIES HERETO AGREE TO WAIVE THEIR RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT
OF THIS NOTE.


 


The
Maker agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Payee and its partners, affiliates, employees and agents, from and against any
and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, costs, suits and expenses of any kind or nature
arising from breaches of the Maker’s representations and warranties set forth herein and arising from claims by parties
other than the Payee and its affiliates regarding the transaction contemplated herein or the actual or proposed execution, delivery,
enforcement and performance of the agreements referred to herein and any agreements executed in connection herewith or therewith.


 


The
Payee may sell, assign or otherwise transfer, or sell participations in, this Note, in whole or in part, upon written notice to
the Maker. On request by the Payee in connection with any such transfer, the Maker will, against the return of this Note, issue
a new Note or Notes to the respective persons entitled thereto, in substantially the form of this Note but in the name of such
persons.


 




    	 	7	 



    	 



    

 


Time
is of the essence in the performance of the Maker’s obligations under this Note.


 


All
notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered by hand, mailed by registered
or certified mail (return receipt requested), sent by electronic mail or sent by Federal Express or other recognized overnight
courier to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):


 


	 	If
    to the Maker:	Royal
    Energy Resources, Inc.
	 	 	56
    Broad Street, Suite 2
	 	 	Charleston,
    SC 29401
	 	 	Email:
    williamtuorto@royalenergy.us
	 	 	Attention:
    William L. Tuorto
	 	 	 
	 	 	with
    a copy to:
	 	 	 
	 	 	Davis
    Gillett Mottern & Sims, LLC 
	 	 	1230
    Peachtree Street, NE, Suite 2445
	 	 	Atlanta,
    Georgia 30309
	 	 	Email:
    bmottern@investmentlawgroup.com
	 	 	Attention:
    Robert J. Mottern
	 	 	 
	 	If
    to the Payee:	Weston
    Energy LLC
	 	 	c/o
    Yorktown Energy Partners XI, L.P.
	 	 	410
    Park Avenue, 19th Floor
	 	 	New
    York, New York 10022-4407
	 	 	Email:
    blawrence@oakcliffcapital.com
	 	 	Attention:
    Bryan R. Lawrence
	 	 	 
	 	 	with
    a copy to:
	 	 	 
	 	 	Thompson
    & Knight LLP
	 	 	One
    Arts Plaza
	 	 	1722
    Routh Street, Suite 1500
	 	 	Dallas,
    Texas 75201-2533
	 	 	Email:
    AnnMarie.Cowdrey@tklaw.com
	 	 	Attention:
    Ann Marie Cowdrey


 




    	 	8	 



    	 



    

 


This
Note embodies the entire agreement of the Maker and the Payee with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior
agreements and understandings with respect to such subject matter.


 


The
Maker hereby agrees, subject only to any limitation imposed by applicable law, to pay all expenses, including all attorneys’
fees and out-of-pocket legal expenses, incurred by the Payee in endeavoring to collect any amounts payable hereunder that are
not paid when due, whether by declaration or otherwise. The Maker hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Payee from
any and all claims, actions, causes of action, demands, losses, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable
attorneys’ fees and expenses), asserted against, resulting to, imposed upon, or incurred by the Payee, directly or indirectly,
by reason of or resulting from this Note other than any such claims arising as a result of the Payee’s gross negligence
or willful misconduct.


 


Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in this Note, in no event shall the interest payable hereon, whether before or after maturity,
exceed the maximum interest which, under applicable law, may be charged on this Note.


 


The
terms and conditions of this Note shall not be amended, changed, terminated or waived except by a writing duly executed by the
Payee and the Maker.


 


*******


[Remainder
of this Page Intentionally Left Blank]


 




    	 	9	 



    	 



    

 


IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, by its duly authorized and acting officers below, has executed this Note as of the date first
set forth above.


 


	 	ROYAL
    ENERGY RESOURCES, INC.
	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/
    William L. Tuorto
	 	Name:	William
    L. Tuorto
	 	Title:	Chief
    Executive Officer


 




    	[Secured Promissory Note]



    	 



    

 


Schedule
A


Maker
Indebtedness


 


	 	1.	Convertible
    Notes to various investors in the original principal amount of $2,150,000.
	 	 	 
	 	2.	Demand
    note dated March 6, 2015 payable to E-Starts Money Co. in the original principal amount of $203,593. 
	 	 	 
	 	3.	Demand
    note dated June 11, 2015 payable to E-Starts Money Co. in the original principal amount of $200,000.
	 	 	 
	 	4.	Demand
    note dated September 22, 2016 payable to E-Starts Money Co. in the original principal amount of $50,000. 


 




    	 	 	 



    	 	 	 



    


 


Schedule
B


Use
of Proceeds


 


The
proceeds advanced under the Note on the date hereof will be used to make a payment due to Rhino under the Note, dated March 21,
2016, in the original principal amount of $7,000,000.


 




    	 	12