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Share-Based Compensation Expense Available for Each Plan (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |
Total share-based compensation | $ 10.9 | $ 26.0 | $ 40.5
The Gold Fields Limited 2012 Share Plan | Performance Shares |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |
Total share-based compensation | 0.0 |  |
Continuing operations |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |
Total share-based compensation | 10.9 | 26.0 | 40.5
Continuing operations | The Gold Fields Limited 2012 Share Plan | Performance Shares |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |
Total share-based compensation | 8.2 | 12.0 | 18.8
Continuing operations | The Gold Fields Limited 2012 Share Plan | Bonus Shares |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |
Total share-based compensation | 2.7 | 12.3 | 11.9
Continuing operations | The Gold Fields Limited 2005 Share Plan |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |
Total share-based compensation |  | 1.7 | 9.8
Discontinued operations |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |
Total share-based compensation | $ 0.0 | $ 0.0 | 4.6
Discontinued operations | The Gold Fields Limited 2012 Share Plan | Performance Shares |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |
Total share-based compensation |  |  | 1.1
Discontinued operations | The Gold Fields Limited 2012 Share Plan | Bonus Shares |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |
Total share-based compensation |  |  | 0.8
Discontinued operations | The Gold Fields Limited 2005 Share Plan |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |
Total share-based compensation |  |  | $ 2.7

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- Definition Represents the expense recognized during the period arising from equity-based compensation arrangements (for example, shares of stock, unit, stock options or other equity instruments) with employees, directors and certain consultants qualifying for treatment as employees. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 14.F) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27013229&loc=d3e301413-122809 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5047-113901 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (h)(1)(i) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 14 -Section F + Details
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- 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
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