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Summarize Information relating to Options Outstanding (Detail) - The Gold Fields Limited 2005 Share Plan - $ / shares | 12 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Outstanding SARS, Weighted average exercise price | $ 6.03 | $ 7.89 | $ 8.89 | $ 12.53
Stock Appreciation Rights |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Outstanding SARS, Number of options | 1,025,178 | 1,818,261 | 3,151,728 | 4,318,909
Outstanding SARS, Contractual life | 10 months 2 days | 1 year 5 months 23 days |  |
Outstanding SARS, Weighted average exercise price | $ 6.03 | $ 7.89 |  |
Stock Appreciation Rights | Range One |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Outstanding SARS, Price range, lower limit | 3.97 | 5.19 |  |
Outstanding SARS, Price range, upper limit | $ 5.63 | $ 7.35 |  |
Outstanding SARS, Number of options | 448,296 | 580,833 |  |
Outstanding SARS, Contractual life | 2 months 19 days | 1 year 2 months 19 days |  |
Outstanding SARS, Weighted average exercise price | $ 5.03 | $ 6.56 |  |
Stock Appreciation Rights | Range Two |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Outstanding SARS, Price range, lower limit | 5.64 | 7.36 |  |
Outstanding SARS, Price range, upper limit | $ 7.28 | $ 9.51 |  |
Outstanding SARS, Number of options | 33,641 | 454,131 |  |
Outstanding SARS, Contractual life | 7 months 6 days | 3 months 29 days |  |
Outstanding SARS, Weighted average exercise price | $ 5.86 | $ 8.17 |  |
Stock Appreciation Rights | Range Three |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Outstanding SARS, Price range, lower limit | 7.29 | 9.52 |  |
Outstanding SARS, Price range, upper limit | $ 8.94 | $ 11.68 |  |
Outstanding SARS, Number of options | 531,720 | 769,159 |  |
Outstanding SARS, Contractual life | 1 year 4 months 6 days | 2 years 3 months 29 days |  |
Outstanding SARS, Weighted average exercise price | $ 6.84 | $ 8.94 |  |
Stock Appreciation Rights | Range Four |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Outstanding SARS, Price range, lower limit | 8.95 | 11.69 |  |
Outstanding SARS, Price range, upper limit | $ 10.60 | $ 13.84 |  |
Outstanding SARS, Number of options | 11,521 | 14,138 |  |
Outstanding SARS, Contractual life | 2 years 4 days | 3 years 4 days |  |
Outstanding SARS, Weighted average exercise price | $ 7.84 | $ 10.25 |  |

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- Definition Number of options outstanding, including both vested and non-vested options. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c)(1)(i)-(ii) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
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- Definition Weighted average price at which grantees can acquire the shares reserved for issuance under the stock option plan. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c)(1)(i) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
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