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v2.4.1.9

Unredeemed Capital Expenditure (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $) | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
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Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items] |  |
Tax losses available for deduction against future income | $ 551,900,000 us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards | $ 551,700,000 us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
Gold Fields La Cima |  |
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items] |  |
Tax losses available for deduction against future income | $ 0 us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_GoldFieldsLaCimaMember | $ 0 us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards / dei_LegalEntityAxis = gfi_GoldFieldsLaCimaMember

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- Definition Amount of operating loss carryforward, before tax effects, available to reduce future taxable income under enacted tax laws. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32559-109319 + Details
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