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Related Party Transactions - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified |  |  | 6 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Oct. 14, 2011 | Apr. 21, 2009 Gold Fields Operations | Dec. 31, 2010 Rand Refinery Limited | Dec. 31, 2012 Rand Refinery Limited | Dec. 31, 2011 Rand Refinery Limited | Jun. 30, 2010 Rand Refinery Limited | Nov. 21, 2000 Rand Refinery Limited | Dec. 31, 2012 Peotona Gold (Proprietary) Limited | Apr. 21, 2009 Peotona Gold (Proprietary) Limited | Apr. 21, 2009 Peotona Gold (Proprietary) Limited Gold Fields Operations | Oct. 14, 2011 Western Areas Prospecting
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership Interests, percent |  |  |  | 34.90% |  |  |  |  |  |  | 100.00%
Refining fees |  |  | $ 1.4 | $ 1.8 | $ 1.7 | $ 1.2 |  |  |  |  |
Agreement with GFL Mining Services Limited regarding Gold Fields' South African gold production, maximum percentage allowed to sell |  |  |  |  |  |  | 50.00% |  |  |  |
Cheryl A. Carolus, a non-executive director of Gold Fields, economic interest |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 25.00% |  |  |
Cheryl A. Carolus, a non-executive director of Gold Fields, voting interest |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 51.00% |  |  |
Ownership interest in Western Areas Prospecting (Proprietary) Limited |  | 74.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  | 26.00% |  |
Option to acquire Peotona Gold interest in Western Areas Prospecting (Proprietary) Limited |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 26.00% |
Percentage of ownership interest acquired from Peotona Gold | 26.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amount of cash paid to acquire Peotona Gold | $ 6.3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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