XML 104 R135.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9

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

X

- 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

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- 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

X

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: