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Asset Impairments and Write Offs (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Impairment Of Assets [Line Items]      
Asset impairment and write off $ 14.0us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges $ 215.3us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges $ 41.6us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
Life of mine years 72 years 73 years  
Property, Plant and Equipment      
Impairment Of Assets [Line Items]      
Asset impairment and write off 12.7us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
/ gfi_ImpairedOtherAssetsHeldAndUsedByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentMember
122.3us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
/ gfi_ImpairedOtherAssetsHeldAndUsedByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentMember
14.5us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
/ gfi_ImpairedOtherAssetsHeldAndUsedByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentMember
Yanfolila      
Impairment Of Assets [Line Items]      
Percentage of sale interest project 85.00%gfi_PercentageOfOwnershipInterestSold
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= gfi_YanfolilaMember
   
Equity acquisition, amount 21.1us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationConsideration
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= gfi_YanfolilaMember
   
Yanfolila | Property, Plant and Equipment      
Impairment Of Assets [Line Items]      
Asset impairment and write off   29.7us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
/ gfi_ImpairedOtherAssetsHeldAndUsedByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentMember
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= gfi_YanfolilaMember
[1]  
Damang - asset group      
Impairment Of Assets [Line Items]      
Life of mine years   6 years  
Damang - asset group | Property, Plant and Equipment      
Impairment Of Assets [Line Items]      
Asset impairment and write off   53.0us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
/ gfi_ImpairedOtherAssetsHeldAndUsedByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentMember
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= gfi_DamangAssetGroupMember
[2]  
Real discount rate   8.00%us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate
/ gfi_ImpairedOtherAssetsHeldAndUsedByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentMember
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= gfi_DamangAssetGroupMember
 
Long-term gold price per ounce   1,300gfi_FairValueInputsPricePerOunce
/ gfi_ImpairedOtherAssetsHeldAndUsedByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentMember
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= gfi_DamangAssetGroupMember
 
Resource valuation per ounce   26gfi_FairValueInputsResourceValuationPerOunce
/ gfi_ImpairedOtherAssetsHeldAndUsedByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentMember
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= gfi_DamangAssetGroupMember
 
Non-refundable option payment to Bezant | Other      
Impairment Of Assets [Line Items]      
Asset impairment and write off $ 9.5us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis
= gfi_OtherImpairmentAssetsHeldAndUsedMember
/ us-gaap_LongLivedAssetsHeldForSaleByAssetTypeAxis
= gfi_NonRefundableOptionPaymentToBezantMember
   
Option expiration date Jan. 31, 2014    
[1] Following the Group's decision during fiscal 2013 to dispose of non-core projects, Yanfolila was classified as held for sale and, accordingly, valued at the lower of fair value less cost to sell or carrying value which resulted in an impairment of US$29.7 million during fiscal 2013. During fiscal 2014, Gold Fields sold its 85% interest in the Yanfolila project for $21.1 million (refer note 3(c )).
[2] As the undiscounted cash flows for Damang were less than its carrying value in fiscal 2013, the fair value of Damang was calculated using a combination of the market (comparable resource transactions) and the income (present value techniques) methods. The impairment was mainly due to the decrease in the gold price which impacted the life of mine plan. The key assumptions used in the calculation were as follows: - Real discount rate - 8% - Gold price per ounce - $1,300 - Resource valuation per ounce - $26 - 2013 life of mine years - 6 The fair value calculation was very sensitive to the gold price assumption and an increase or decrease in the gold price could materially change the fair value.