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Unredeemed Capital Expenditure (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items] |  |  |
Unredeemed capital expenditure, Taxable amount |  | $ 657.0 | $ 762.2
Unredeemed capital expenditure |  | 2,179.3 | 2,531.9
Gold Fields Operations |  |  |
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items] |  |  |
Unredeemed capital expenditure, Taxable amount |  | 158.4 | 197.0
Unredeemed capital expenditure |  | $ 528.2 | 656.9
Tax rate | [1] | 30.00% |
GFI Joint Venture Holdings |  |  |
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items] |  |  |
Unredeemed capital expenditure, Taxable amount | [2] | $ 475.8 | 546.8
Unredeemed capital expenditure | [2] | $ 1,586.0 | 1,822.6
Tax rate | [1],[2] | 30.00% |
Abosso Goldfields Limited |  |  |
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items] |  |  |
Unredeemed capital expenditure, Taxable amount |  | $ 22.4 | 18.0
Unredeemed capital expenditure |  | $ 63.9 | 51.3
Tax rate | [3] | 35.00% |
Gold Fields Australia (Proprietary) Limited |  |  |
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items] |  |  |
Unredeemed capital expenditure, Taxable amount |  | $ 0.4 |
Unredeemed capital expenditure |  | $ 1.2 |
Tax rate |  | 30.00% |
Exploration Entities |  |  |
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items] |  |  |
Unredeemed capital expenditure, Taxable amount |  |  | 0.4
Unredeemed capital expenditure |  |  | $ 1.1
Tax rate |  | 35.00% |
[1] | These future deductions may be utilized against income generated by the individual tax entity concerned and do not expire unless the tax entity ceases to commercially operate for a period longer than one year. Under South African mining tax ring-fencing legislation, each tax entity is treated separately and as such these deductions can only be utilized by the tax entities in which the deductions have been generated.
[2] | During 2014, the South African Revenue Services ("SARS") issued a Finalisation of Audit Letter ("the Audit Letter") stating that SARS had disallowed $1,014.2 million of GFIJVH's recognised capital allowance of $1,586.0 million. The company has not received an assessment from SARS disallowing the $1 014.2 million and the company believes it is more likely than not it has a defendable position over this matter.
[3] | Tax losses may be carried forward for five years. These losses expire on a first-in-first-out basis.

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