XML 130 R72.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.6

Property Plant and Equipment - Additional Information (Detail) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 1 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |  |  | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Aug. 27, 2009 USD ($) | Aug. 27, 2009 AUD | Dec. 31, 2010 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2010 USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2009 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2011 $60 million senior secured revolving credit facility USD ($) | Dec. 22, 2010 $60 million senior secured revolving credit facility USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2010 Glencar Mining Plc | Jun. 30, 2009 St Ives | Jun. 30, 2009 St Ives Minimum Ounce
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment |  |  | $ 389.4 | $ 745.3 | $ 631.1 | $ 433.5 |  |  |  |  |
Fleet assets pledged |  |  |  | 80.7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revolving credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity |  |  |  |  |  |  | 60.0 | 60.0 |  |  |
Royalty termination | 257.1 | 308.0 |  |  | 257.1 |  |  |  |  |  |
Royalty termination agreement |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | The terminated royalty agreement required St. Ives to pay a 4% net smelter volume royalty on all of its revenues once total gold produced from November 30, 2001 exceeded 3.3 million ounces which was triggered early in fiscal year ended June 30, 2009, and provided that if the gold price exceeded A$600 per ounce, to pay an additional 10% of the revenue difference between the spot gold price, in Australian dollars per ounce, and the price of A$600 per ounce. |
Net smelter volume royalty payment on all revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4.00% |
Gold production volume required to trigger royalty, minimum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,300,000
Gold threshold price in Australian dollars per ounce for additional royalty payment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 600 |
Additional royalty percentage payable |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10.00% |
Ownership acquired, percentage |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 100.00% |  |
Ownership acquired, amount |  |  |  |  | $ 43.0 |  |  |  |  |  |

X
- Definition Additional Royalty Payment Rate + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gfi_AdditionalRoyaltyPaymentRate
Namespace Prefix: | gfi_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Assets Pledged As Collateral + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gfi_AssetsPledgedAsCollateral
Namespace Prefix: | gfi_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Price Threshold for Royalty Payment + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gfi_PriceThresholdForRoyaltyPayment
Namespace Prefix: | gfi_
Data Type: | us-types:perUnitItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Production Threshold Trigger for Royalty + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gfi_ProductionThresholdTriggerForRoyalty
Namespace Prefix: | gfi_
Data Type: | xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Royalty Payment Rate + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gfi_RoyaltyPaymentRate
Namespace Prefix: | gfi_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Description of St Ives Royalty termination agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gfi_RoyaltyTerminationAgreement
Namespace Prefix: | gfi_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Aggregate depreciation, depletion and amortization expense in the current period for the cost of tangible assets, intangible assets, or depleting assets directly related to goods produced and sold during the reporting period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CostOfGoodsSoldDepreciationDepletionAndAmortization
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 129 -Paragraph 2, 4 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19, 22 -Article 5 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The parent entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, expressed as a percentage. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParent
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The net cash outflow or inflow from other investing activities. This element is used when there is not a more specific and appropriate element in the taxonomy. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3095-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 15 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Investing Activities -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 9 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3098-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The value of all consideration given or received by the Entity in the significant acquisition or disposal. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_SignificantAcquisitionsAndDisposalsAcquisitionCostsOrSaleProceeds
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant