XML 113 R62.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.6

Income and Mining Tax Expense - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010 | Jun. 30, 2010
Total Mining Operations |  |  |
Income Taxes [Line Items] |  |  |
Tax losses available for deduction against future income | $ 525.3 | $ 928.5 | $ 958.2
Orogen Investments SA (Luxembourg) |  |  |
Income Taxes [Line Items] |  |  |
Tax losses available for deduction against future income | 130.8 | 136.5 | 145.3
Maximum number of years losses can be carried forward | 5 years |  |
Gold Fields Australia (Pty) Limited | Total Mining Operations |  |  |
Income Taxes [Line Items] |  |  |
Tax losses available for deduction against future income |  | $ 177.6 | $ 251.9
Gold Fields Ghana Limited |  |  |
Income Taxes [Line Items] |  |  |
Maximum number of years losses can be carried forward | 5 years |  |
Abosso Goldfields Limited |  |  |
Income Taxes [Line Items] |  |  |
Maximum number of years losses can be carried forward | 5 years |  |

X
- Details
Name: | gfi_IncomeTaxesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | gfi_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Tax Loss Carryforwards, Maximum Period Carried Forward + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gfi_TaxLossCarryforwardsMaximumPeriodCarriedForward
Namespace Prefix: | gfi_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The sum of domestic, foreign and state and local operating loss carryforwards, before tax effects, available to reduce future taxable income under enacted tax laws. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 109 -Paragraph 48 -Subparagraph a -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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 FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32559-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant