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Acquisition and Disposal of Businesses - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions |  |  |  |  | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2015 | Jul. 01, 2015 | Aug. 19, 2014 | Jul. 02, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
Business Acquisition And Disposal [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Profit on disposal of investments and subsidiaries |  |  |  |  | $ 0.1 | $ 78.0 |  | $ 17.8
Hummingbird Resources Plc |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition And Disposal [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of holding |  | 25.10% |  |  |  | 25.10% | [1] |
Percentage of shareholding, after issue of new shares |  | 19.90% |  |  |  |  |  |
Canteras Del Hallazgo | Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale | Chucapaca |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition And Disposal [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity sale price |  |  | $ 81.0 |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of smelter royalty receivable on future sales |  |  | 1.50% |  |  |  |  |
Profit on disposal of investments and subsidiaries |  |  | $ 72.8 |  |  | $ 72.8 |  |
Hummingbird | Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale | Yanfolila |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition And Disposal [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity acquisition, amount |  |  |  |  |  | 21.1 |  |
Profit on disposal of investments and subsidiaries |  |  |  |  |  | $ 5.1 |  |
Hummingbird | Mali | Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale | Yanfolila |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition And Disposal [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of sale interest project |  |  |  | 85.00% |  |  |  |
Equity acquisition, amount |  |  |  | $ 21.1 |  |  |  |
Equity acquisition, shares |  |  |  | 21,258,503 |  |  |  |
Profit on disposal of investments and subsidiaries |  |  |  | $ 5.1 |  |  |  |
Compania De Minas Buenaventura S.A.A. | Canteras Del Hallazgo | Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale | Chucapaca |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition And Disposal [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of sale interest project |  |  | 51.00% |  |  | 51.00% |  |
Equity ownership percentage |  |  | 49.00% |  |  |  |  |
Sibanye Spin-off | Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Means Other than Sale, Spinoff | Sibanye Gold |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition And Disposal [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Description of spin-off Distribution ratio | The Spin-off was achieved by way of Gold Fields making a distribution on a pro rata basis of one Sibanye Gold ordinary share for every one Gold Fields share (whether held in the form of shares, American depositary receipts, or ADRs, or international depositary receipts) to Gold Fields shareholders, registered as such in Gold Fields' register at close of business on February 15, 2013, in terms of section 46 of the South African Companies Act and section 46 of the South African Income Tax Act. |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Spin off date |  |  |  |  | Feb. 18, 2013 |  |  |
[1] | During fiscal 2014, Gold Fields acquired a 25.1% interest in Hummingbird Resources Plc (Refer note 3(c) for further details).

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