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v2.4.1.9

Estimated Capital Allowances (Detail) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Tax losses | $ 162,800,000 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards |  | $ 159,800,000 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards |
Calculated tax losses | 551,900,000 us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards |  | 551,700,000 us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards |
Gold Fields Operations |  |  |  |
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Tax losses | 84,900,000 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_GoldFieldsOperationsMember | [1] | 90,400,000 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_GoldFieldsOperationsMember | [1]
Calculated tax losses | 283,000,000 us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_GoldFieldsOperationsMember | [1] | 301,100,000 us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_GoldFieldsOperationsMember | [1]
Tax rate | 30.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_GoldFieldsOperationsMember | [1] |  |
GFI Joint Venture Holdings |  |  |  |
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Tax losses | 6,300,000 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_GfiJointVenturesHoldingPtyLimitedMember | [1] |  |
Calculated tax losses | 20,900,000 us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_GfiJointVenturesHoldingPtyLimitedMember | [1] |  |
Tax rate | 30.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_GfiJointVenturesHoldingPtyLimitedMember | [1],[2] |  |
Gold Fields Group Services (Pty) Limited [Member] |  |  |  |
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Tax losses | 200,000 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_GoldFieldsGroupServicesPtyLimitedMember | [1] | 2,300,000 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_GoldFieldsGroupServicesPtyLimitedMember | [1]
Calculated tax losses | 800,000 us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_GoldFieldsGroupServicesPtyLimitedMember | [1] | 8,200,000 us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_GoldFieldsGroupServicesPtyLimitedMember | [1]
Tax rate | 28.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_GoldFieldsGroupServicesPtyLimitedMember | [1] |  |
Abosso Goldfields Limited |  |  |  |
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Tax losses | 16,300,000 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_AbossoGoldfieldsLimitedMember | [3] | 2,600,000 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_AbossoGoldfieldsLimitedMember | [3]
Calculated tax losses | 46,500,000 us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_AbossoGoldfieldsLimitedMember | [3] | 7,200,000 us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_AbossoGoldfieldsLimitedMember | [3]
Tax rate | 35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_AbossoGoldfieldsLimitedMember | [3] |  |
Orogen Investments SA (Luxembourg) |  |  |  |
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Tax losses | 36,800,000 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_OrogenInvestmentSaLuxembourgMember | [4] | 41,200,000 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_OrogenInvestmentSaLuxembourgMember | [4]
Calculated tax losses | 126,000,000 us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_OrogenInvestmentSaLuxembourgMember | [4] | 140,400,000 us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_OrogenInvestmentSaLuxembourgMember | [4]
Tax rate | 29.20%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_OrogenInvestmentSaLuxembourgMember | [4] |  |
Gold Fields Arctic Platinum Oy |  |  |  |
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Tax losses | 18,300,000 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_GoldFieldsArcticPlatinumOyMember | [5] | 23,300,000 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_GoldFieldsArcticPlatinumOyMember | [5]
Calculated tax losses | $ 74,700,000 us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_GoldFieldsArcticPlatinumOyMember | [5] | $ 94,800,000 us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_GoldFieldsArcticPlatinumOyMember | [5]
Tax rate | 24.50%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_GoldFieldsArcticPlatinumOyMember | [5] |  |
[1] | These future deductions may be utilized against income generated by the individual tax entity concerned and do not expire unless the tax entity ceases to commercially operate for a period longer than one year. Under South African mining tax ring-fencing legislation, each tax entity is treated separately and as such these deductions can only be utilized by the tax entities in which the deductions have been generated.
[2] | During 2014, the South African Revenue Services ("SARS") issued a Finalisation of Audit Letter ("the Audit Letter") stating that SARS had disallowed US$1,108.8 million of GFIJVH's recognised capital allowance of US$1,822.6 million. The company has not received an assessment from SARS disallowing the US$1,108.8 million and the company believes it is more likely than not it has a defendable position over this matter.
[3] | Tax losses may be carried forward for five years. These losses expire on a first-in-first-out basis.
[4] | The tax losses can only be used to offset future interest income generated by Orogen and can be carried forward indefinitely.
[5] | Tax losses may be carried forward for ten years. These losses expire on a first-in first-out basis.

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