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Non-Current Investments - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Mar. 31, 2012
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Realized gain on disposal of listed investments before tax | $ 1.8 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIForSaleOfSecuritiesBeforeTax | $ 7.4 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIForSaleOfSecuritiesBeforeTax |  |  |  |
Far South East Project [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership % | 40.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = gfi_FarSouthEastMember | 40.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = gfi_FarSouthEastMember |  |  |  |
Option percentage currently not exercised | 20.00%gfi_PercentageOfIncreaseInCommonStockToBeIssuedUponExcersiseOfWarrant / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = gfi_FarSouthEastMember |  |  |  |  |
Far South East Project [Member] | Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Pre-agreed acquisition price for a 60% interest in FSE, option fees paid |  |  | 10.0 gfi_OptionFeesPaid / invest_InvestmentContractCounterpartyAxis = gfi_LepantoConsolidatedMiningCompanyMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = gfi_FarSouthEastMember |  |  |
Far South East Project [Member] | Liberty Express Assets |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Pre-agreed acquisition price for a 60% interest in FSE, non-refundable down payment |  |  | 44.0 gfi_NonRefundableDownPayment / invest_InvestmentContractCounterpartyAxis = gfi_LibertyExpressAssetsMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = gfi_FarSouthEastMember | 110.0 gfi_NonRefundableDownPayment / invest_InvestmentContractCounterpartyAxis = gfi_LibertyExpressAssetsMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = gfi_FarSouthEastMember | 66.0 gfi_NonRefundableDownPayment / invest_InvestmentContractCounterpartyAxis = gfi_LibertyExpressAssetsMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = gfi_FarSouthEastMember |
Pre-agreed acquisition, options to acquire |  |  | 60.00%gfi_OptionToAcquireInterestsPercentage / invest_InvestmentContractCounterpartyAxis = gfi_LibertyExpressAssetsMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = gfi_FarSouthEastMember |  |  |
Ownership % |  |  |  |  |  | 40.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / invest_InvestmentContractCounterpartyAxis = gfi_LibertyExpressAssetsMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = gfi_FarSouthEastMember
Final Payment for a 40% interest in FSE |  |  |  |  |  | $ 110.0 gfi_FinalPaymentForInterestAcquired / invest_InvestmentContractCounterpartyAxis = gfi_LibertyExpressAssetsMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = gfi_FarSouthEastMember

X
- Definition The final non-refundable down payment payable at the expiration date of the option period to acquire an interest in an exploration project/asset. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Non-refundable down payments payable on various dates during the option period to acquire an interest in an exploration project/asset. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Non-refundable option fees paid to acquire the entire share capital or a percentage interest in a Company. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571 + Details
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