XML 111 R99.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9

Carrying Value of Equity Investment in Far South East (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Opening balance	$ 237.5us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments	[1]
Share of losses recognized for the year	(4.4)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments		(18.4)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments		(63.1)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
Closing balance	250.5us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments	[1]	237.5us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments	[1]
Far South East Project [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Opening balance	230.0us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = gfi_FarSouthEastMember		230.0us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = gfi_FarSouthEastMember
Accumulated equity contribution	72.1us-gaap_InvestmentsInAndAdvancesToAffiliatesAtFairValueGrossAdditions / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = gfi_FarSouthEastMember		68.5us-gaap_InvestmentsInAndAdvancesToAffiliatesAtFairValueGrossAdditions / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = gfi_FarSouthEastMember
Share of accumulated losses brought forward	(68.5)gfi_AccumulatedIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestmentsBroughtForward / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = gfi_FarSouthEastMember		(50.1)gfi_AccumulatedIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestmentsBroughtForward / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = gfi_FarSouthEastMember
Share of losses recognized for the year	(3.6)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = gfi_FarSouthEastMember		(18.4)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = gfi_FarSouthEastMember
Closing balance	$ 230.0us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = gfi_FarSouthEastMember		$ 230.0us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = gfi_FarSouthEastMember
[1] Equity investees comprise the following: Ownership % Market value Investment Description of business December 31, 2014 December 31, 2013 December 31, 2014 December 31, 2013 Far South East Exploration 40.0 40.0 * * Rusoro Mining Limited Gold mining 26.4 26.4 1.8 3.3 Bezant Resources Plc 1 Exploration 21.6 21.6 1.3 5.1 Hummingbird Resources Plc 2 Exploration 25.1 - 10.9 - * - Not readily determinable. (1) During fiscal 2014, the investment in Bezant Resources Plc was impaired by $7.4 million to its fair value, as determined by its quoted market price. This impairment is considered other than temporary as the carrying value has been below the fair value for an extended period of time. (2) Gold Fields acquired a 25.1% interest in Hummingbird Resources Plc (Refer note 3(c) for further details).

X

- Definition

This item represents the entity's accumulated proportionate share of the net income (loss) of its investee (such as unconsolidated subsidiaries and joint ventures) to which the equity method of accounting is applied brought forward from prior years. This item includes income or expense related to stock-based compensation based on the investor's grant of stock to employees of an equity method investee.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gfi_AccumulatedIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestmentsBroughtForward
Namespace Prefix:	gfi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

This item represents the carrying amount on the entity's balance sheet of its investment in common stock of an equity method investee. This is not an indicator of the fair value of the investment, rather it is the initial cost adjusted for the entity's share of earnings and losses of the investee, adjusted for any distributions (dividends) and other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.12)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35755396&loc=d3e33749-111570

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

This item represents the entity's proportionate share for the period of the net income (loss) of its investee (such as unconsolidated subsidiaries and joint ventures) to which the equity method of accounting is applied. This item includes income or expense related to stock-based compensation based on the investor's grant of stock to employees of an equity method investee.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 9

-Article 5



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35755396&loc=d3e33749-111570



Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.12)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688



Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph 11

-Article 7

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Gross additions to the investment in and advance to the affiliate.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 946

-SubTopic 320

-Section S99

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-14.1(b)(3))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34726532&loc=d3e611322-123010



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 14

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph b(3)

-Article 12

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentsInAndAdvancesToAffiliatesAtFairValueGrossAdditions
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

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

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=gfi_FarSouthEastMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: