XML 141 R106.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.3.1.900

Short-Term and Long-Term Loans (Parenthetical) (Detail) | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015 ZAR | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2014 ZAR
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Notes issued, face value | $ 1,000,000,000 |  |  |
$200 million non-revolving senior secured term loan |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Long-term revolving credit facility | 200,000,000 |  | $ 200,000,000 |
La Cima Revolving Senior Secured Credit Facility |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Long-term revolving credit facility | 200,000,000 |  | 200,000,000 |
$1 billion notes issue |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Notes issued, face value | 1,000,000,000 |  | 1,000,000,000 |
$70 million senior secured revolving credit facility |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Long-term revolving credit facility | 70,000,000 |  | 70,000,000 |
$1,510 million term loan and revolving credit facility |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Long-term revolving credit facility | $ 1,510,000,000 |  | $ 1,510,000,000 |
R1,500 million Nedbank revolving credit facility |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Long-term revolving credit facility | ZAR |  | ZAR 1,500,000,000 |  | ZAR 1,500,000,000

X
- Definition Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 30 -Section 55 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34725769&loc=d3e28878-108400 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility. + 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 210.5-02.19(b),22(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=gfi_NonRevolvingSeniorSecuredTermLoanMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=gfi_LaCimaRevolvingSeniorSecuredCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=gfi_DollarOneBillionNotesIssueMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=gfi_SeniorSecuredCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=gfi_TermLoanAndRevolvingCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=gfi_NedbankRevolvingCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |