XML 156 R121.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.3.1.900

Derivative Financial Instruments and Fair Value and Credit Risk of Financial Instruments - Additional information (Detail) $ in Millions |  |  | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Nov. 26, 2014 $ / bbl bbl | Sep. 10, 2014 $ / bbl bbl | Mar. 31, 2015 $ / bbl bbl | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) $ / T | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) $ / T | Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) $ / T
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Transfers between levels of fair value hierarchy |  |  |  | There were no transfers during the years ended December, 31 2015 and 2014. |  |
Commodity Contract |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Average recorded price net of refining charges (per ton) | $ / T |  |  |  | 4,787 | 6,827 | 6,575
Applicable three month forward copper price | $ / T |  |  |  | 4,650 |  |
Commodity cash settle and swap transaction, volume | bbl | 283,500 |  | 63,000 |  |  |
Derivative contracts, price per barrel | 96.00 |  | 94.00 |  |  |
Derivative contracts, percent of usage |  | 50.00% |  |  |  |
Derivative contracts, spot price per barrel |  | 99.10 |  |  |  |
Commodity Contract | Product Sales |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain (loss) on mark-to-market value of contracts | $ |  |  |  | $ (1.6) | $ (8.1) | $ (7.9)
Commodity Contract | London Metal Exchange |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
LME copper prices, average price per ton | $ / T |  |  |  | 5,376 | 6,861 | 7,324
Commodity Contract | Brent Crude |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative contracts, spot price per barrel | 78.50 |  |  |  |  |
Commodity Contract | Gold Fields Australia (Pty) Limited |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Commodity cash settle and swap transaction, volume | bbl |  | 136,500 |  |  |  |
Derivative contracts, price per barrel |  | 115.00 |  |  |  |
Energy Related Derivative |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Oil derivative contracts | $ |  |  |  | $ 1.5 | $ 10.3 |
Unionized Employees Concentration Risk [Member] | Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Unionized workforce participation |  |  |  | 76.00% |  |
Unionized Employees Concentration Risk [Member] | Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements [Member] | Peru |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Unionized workforce participation |  |  |  | 10.00% |  |
Unionized Employees Concentration Risk [Member] | Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements [Member] | Australia |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Unionized workforce participation |  |  |  | 0.00% |  |
Unionized Employees Concentration Risk [Member] | Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements [Member] | South Africa |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Unionized workforce participation |  |  |  | 93.00% |  |
Unionized Employees Concentration Risk [Member] | Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements [Member] | Ghana |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Unionized workforce participation |  |  |  | 96.00% |  |

X
- Definition Average recorded price net of refining charges. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gfi_AverageRecordedPriceNetOfRefiningCharges
Namespace Prefix: | gfi_
Data Type: | us-types:perUnitItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Commodity average price + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gfi_CommodityAveragePrice
Namespace Prefix: | gfi_
Data Type: | us-types:perUnitItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Commodity fixed price + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gfi_CommodityFixedPrice
Namespace Prefix: | gfi_
Data Type: | us-types:perUnitItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Commodity spot price. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gfi_CommoditySpotPrice
Namespace Prefix: | gfi_
Data Type: | us-types:perUnitItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Derivative contracts percent of usage. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gfi_DerivativeContractsPercentOfUsage
Namespace Prefix: | gfi_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Fair value transfers between levels description. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gfi_FairValueTransfersBetweenLevelsDescription
Namespace Prefix: | gfi_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Volume of Commodity Sold + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gfi_VolumeOfCommoditySold
Namespace Prefix: | gfi_
Data Type: | num:volumeItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition For an entity that discloses a concentration risk in relation to quantitative amount, which serves as the "benchmark" (or denominator) in the equation, this concept represents the concentration percentage derived from the division. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 275 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 18 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51801978&loc=d3e6351-108592 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 20 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49121117&loc=d3e13531-108611 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 275 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 20 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51801978&loc=d3e6404-108592 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 21 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49121117&loc=d3e13537-108611 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The average forward price on the group of price risk forward or futures contracts, such as gas futures contracts. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeAverageForwardPrice
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | us-types:perUnitItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Fair value, before effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial liability or contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset. Includes liabilities elected not to be offset. Excludes liabilities not subject to a master netting arrangement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 860 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4D -Subparagraph (c)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51814546&loc=SL51823488-111719 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51824906&loc=SL20225862-175312 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4B -Subparagraph (a),(c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56946850&loc=SL5624163-113959 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 20 -Section 55 -Paragraph 7 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51825145&loc=SL20226000-175313 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) in the fair value of derivatives recognized in the income statement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4A -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56946850&loc=SL5618551-113959 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4C -Subparagraph (a),(c),(d),(e) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56946850&loc=SL5624171-113959 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=us-gaap_SalesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_EntityListingsExchangeAxis=exch_XLME
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_EnergyAxis=gfi_BrentCrudeMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=gfi_GoldFieldsAustraliaPtyLimitedMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_EnergyRelatedDerivativeMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis=us-gaap_UnionizedEmployeesConcentrationRiskMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis=us-gaap_WorkforceSubjectToCollectiveBargainingArrangementsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_PE
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_AU
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_ZA
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_GH
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |