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Commitments - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Guarantees and Other Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |
Operating lease charges | $ 3.2 us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense | $ 4.5 us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense | $ 3.9 us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense
Guarantee Obligations |  |  |
Guarantees and Other Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |
Guarantees | 0.1 us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsCurrentCarryingValue / us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis = us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMember | 0.1 us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsCurrentCarryingValue / us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis = us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMember |
Guarantee Obligations | South African Ghanaian and Australian |  |  |
Guarantees and Other Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |
Guarantees | $ 67.0 us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsCurrentCarryingValue / us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis = us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = gfi_SouthAfricanGhanaianAndAustralianMember | $ 121.1 us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsCurrentCarryingValue / us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis = us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMember / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = gfi_SouthAfricanGhanaianAndAustralianMember |

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- Definition The current carrying amount of the liability for the freestanding or embedded guarantor's obligations under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 460 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6851643&loc=d3e12069-110248 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsCurrentCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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- Details
Name: | us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Amount of rent expense incurred for leased assets, including but not limited to, furniture and equipment, that is not directly or indirectly associated with the manufacture, sale or creation of a product or product line. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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- Details
Name: | us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis=us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |