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v2.4.1.9

Unredeemed Capital Expenditure (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Unredeemed capital expenditure, Taxable amount | $ 867.6 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwards |  | $ 883.8 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwards |
Unredeemed capital expenditure | 2,883.3 us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount |  | 2,942.4 us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount |
Gold Fields Operations |  |  |  |
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Unredeemed capital expenditure, Taxable amount | 197.0 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwards / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_GoldFieldsOperationsMember |  | 207.7 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwards / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_GoldFieldsOperationsMember |
Unredeemed capital expenditure | 656.9 us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_GoldFieldsOperationsMember |  | 692.3 us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_GoldFieldsOperationsMember |
Unredeemed capital expenditure, tax rate | 30.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_GoldFieldsOperationsMember | [1] |  |
GFI Joint Venture Holdings |  |  |  |
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Unredeemed capital expenditure, Taxable amount | 546.8 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwards / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_GfiJointVenturesHoldingPtyLimitedMember | [2] | 534.0 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwards / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_GfiJointVenturesHoldingPtyLimitedMember | [2]
Unredeemed capital expenditure | 1,822.6 us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_GfiJointVenturesHoldingPtyLimitedMember | [2] | 1,779.9 us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_GfiJointVenturesHoldingPtyLimitedMember | [2]
Unredeemed capital expenditure, tax rate | 30.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_GfiJointVenturesHoldingPtyLimitedMember | [1],[2] |  |
Disallowance amount of SARS | 1,108.8 gfi_IncomeTaxExaminationAmountDisallowed / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_GfiJointVenturesHoldingPtyLimitedMember |  |  |
Capital allowance | 1,822.6 gfi_AllowableCapitalAllowances / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_GfiJointVenturesHoldingPtyLimitedMember |  |  |
Gold Fields La Cima |  |  |  |
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Unredeemed capital expenditure, Taxable amount | 105.8 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwards / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_GoldFieldsLaCimaMember | [3] | 135.3 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwards / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_GoldFieldsLaCimaMember | [3]
Unredeemed capital expenditure | 352.5 us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_GoldFieldsLaCimaMember | [3] | 450.9 us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_GoldFieldsLaCimaMember | [3]
Unredeemed capital expenditure, tax rate | 30.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_GoldFieldsLaCimaMember | [3] |  |
Abosso Goldfields Limited |  |  |  |
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Unredeemed capital expenditure, Taxable amount | 18.0 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwards / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_AbossoGoldfieldsLimitedMember |  | 6.8 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwards / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_AbossoGoldfieldsLimitedMember |
Unredeemed capital expenditure | $ 51.3 us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_AbossoGoldfieldsLimitedMember |  | $ 19.3 us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_AbossoGoldfieldsLimitedMember |
Unredeemed capital expenditure, tax rate | 35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_AbossoGoldfieldsLimitedMember | [4] |  |
[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] | The estimated capital allowances do not have an expiration date. Gold Fields La Cima, or La Cima, currently has no tax losses available for utilization against future profits.
[4] | Tax losses may be carried forward for five years. These losses expire on a first-in-first-out basis.

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