XML 55 R79.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.0.6

Goodwill - Additional Information (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012 South Deep Gold Mine	Dec. 31, 2012 South Africa Rand South Deep Gold Mine	Dec. 31, 2012 Currency Us Dollar South Deep Gold Mine
Goodwill [Line Items]
Long-term gold price			400,000	1,500
Exchange rate		R8.29 to $1.00
South Deep life of mine (in years)		80 years
Discount rate, based on a calculated weighted average cost of capital to Gold Fields, lower limit	3.20%
Discount rate, based on a calculated weighted average cost of capital to Gold Fields, upper limit	5.80%

X

- Definition

Description of Exchange Rate

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gfi_DescriptionOfExchangeRate
Namespace Prefix:	gfi_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Discount Rate Used in Goodwill Impairment Testing, Lower Limit

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gfi_DiscountRateUsedInGoodwillImpairmentTestingLowerLimit
Namespace Prefix:	gfi_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Discount Rate Used in Goodwill Impairment Testing, Upper Limit

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gfi_DiscountRateUsedInGoodwillImpairmentTestingUpperLimit
Namespace Prefix:	gfi_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Long term gold price

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gfi_LongTermGoldPrice
Namespace Prefix:	gfi_
Data Type:	us-types:perUnitItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_GoodwillLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Useful life of long lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Examples include, but not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration