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Acquisition And Disposal Of Businesses - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified | 6 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  | 1 Months Ended |  |  | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  | 12 Months Ended |  |  | 1 Months Ended |
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Dec. 31, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Jun. 30, 2010 | Jun. 30, 2009 | Jun. 22, 2011 GHANA | Nov. 26, 2007 Essakane joint venture Exploration Project or Asset | Oct. 11, 2007 Essakane joint venture Exploration Project or Asset | Nov. 26, 2007 Orezone Resources Inc Exploration Project or Asset | Jun. 22, 2011 IAMGold Corporation GHANA | Jun. 21, 2010 IAMGold Corporation GHANA | Jun. 30, 2009 IAMGold Corporation Exploration Project or Asset | Sep. 30, 2010 Far Southeast (FSE) Deposit Exploration Project or Asset The Philippines | Sep. 30, 2011 Far Southeast (FSE) Deposit Exploration Project or Asset The Philippines Liberty Express Assets | Sep. 30, 2010 Far Southeast (FSE) Deposit Exploration Project or Asset The Philippines Liberty Express Assets | Sep. 30, 2010 Far Southeast (FSE) Deposit Exploration Project or Asset The Philippines Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company | Dec. 31, 2011 Far Southeast (FSE) Deposit Exploration Project or Asset The Philippines Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company | Mar. 22, 2012 Far Southeast (FSE) Deposit Exploration Project or Asset The Philippines Acquisition | Dec. 31, 2011 Mankayan Project-Bezant Resources | Jun. 22, 2011 Damang GHANA | Jun. 21, 2010 Damang GHANA | Mar. 22, 2011 Gold Fields La Cima | Mar. 21, 2011 Gold Fields La Cima
Significant Acquisitions and Disposals [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disposal of assets, cash consideration |  |  |  | $ 5.0 |  | $ 152.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss on disposal of subsidiary |  |  |  | (0.3) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of ownership interest subject to acquisition or disposal agreement |  |  |  |  |  |  | 60.00% |  | 90.00% | 71.10% |  | 60.00% |  | 40.00% |  | 20.00% |  |  | 90.00% | 71.10% |  |
Minimum total consideration from selling equity investment |  |  |  |  |  |  | 200 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disposal of assets, newly-issued shares received |  |  |  |  |  | 41,666,667 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disposal of assets, newly-issued shares received, value |  |  |  |  |  | 48 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Share ownership percentage after disposal asset |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12.20% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Orezone shares exchanged for shares |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,300,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disposal of assets, newly-issued shares received, value | 0.4 | 13.7 | 385.8 | 54.3 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 33.4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain (loss) on disposal of assets, newly-issued shares received | (0.4) | 12.8 | 111.7 | (16.1) |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7.2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of options in gold-copper Far Southeast (FSE) exercised |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 40.00% |  |  |  |  |
Business acquisition amount of cash consideration |  |  |  |  | 667 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 110 |  |  |  |  |
Percentage to acquire undeveloped gold-copper Far Southeast (FSE) deposit under option agreement with Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company and Liberty Express Assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 60.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash consideration paid for acquisition |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 340 |  |  |  | 110 |  |  |  |  | 382 |
Pre-agreed acquisition price for a 60% interest in FSE, option fees paid |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pre-agreed acquisition price for a 60% interest in FSE, initial non-refundable down payment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 44 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pre-agreed acquisition price for a 60% interest in FSE, non-refundable down payment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 66 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pre-agreed acquisition price for a 60% interest in FSE |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 220 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Terms of option agreement to acquire undeveloped gold-copper Far Southeast (FSE) deposit |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | The Liberty and Lepanto options were initially granted to Gold Fields for the later of 18 months from signature in September 2010 or the date of receiving a Financial or Technical Assistance Agreement, or FTAA, for the project. A FTAA licence allows a foreign corporation to control a majority interest in a Philippine mining project. Notwithstanding this provision, Gold Fields has the discretion to exercise either option prior to the FTAA being granted. The FTAA application for the FSE project was filed in November 2011 and based on the date of the filing Gold Fields expects it could be granted in the second half of 2012. Gold Fields also expects to have a maiden resource statement for FSE and commence a pre-feasibility study later this year. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Option purchased to acquire share capital of Asean, non-refundable fee paid |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7.0 |  |  |  |
Option purchased to acquire share capital of Asean, exercise price |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 63.0 |  |  |  |
Option purchased to acquire share capital of Asean, expiration date |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Jan. 31, 2013 |  |  |  |
Percentage of ownership interest acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 18.90% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 18.90% |  |  |
Ownership interest held by government of Ghana |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10.00% |  |  |
Percentage of effective economic interest |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 98.50% | 80.70%

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