XML 95 R60.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.3.1.900

Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Minimum likelihood for the realization in order to recognize tax benefit from uncertain tax positions	50.00%
Leach pad production cycles project recoveries, minimum percentage of the placed recoverable ounces in the first year of leaching	50.00%
Leach pad production cycles project recoveries, maximum percentage of the placed recoverable ounces in the first year of leaching	70.00%
Contracts for sales of copper concentrate provisional price, final adjustment period, minimum number of days after delivery	30 days
Contracts for sales of copper concentrate provisional price, final adjustment period, maximum number of days after delivery	90 days
Reclassified as Non-Current
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Current deferred income and mining tax assets	$ 6.9
Current deferred income and mining tax liabilities	$ 10.3

X

- Definition

The maximum number of days after delivery that the selling price of copper concentrate sales are final, after the final adjustments based on the market prices at the relevant quotation points stipulated in the contract.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gfi_FinalAdjustmentPeriodMaximumRange
Namespace Prefix:	gfi_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The minimum number of days after delivery that the selling price of copper concentrate sales are final, after the final adjustments based on the market prices at the relevant quotation points stipulated in the contract.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gfi_FinalAdjustmentPeriodMinimumRange
Namespace Prefix:	gfi_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The maximum percentage of the placed recoverable ounces in the first year of leaching.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gfi_LeachPadProductionCyclesProjectRecoveriesMaximumPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	gfi_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The minimum percentage of the placed recoverable ounces in the first year of leaching.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gfi_LeachPadProductionCyclesProjectRecoveriesMinimumPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	gfi_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Minimum likelihood for the realization in order to recognize tax benefit from uncertain tax positions.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gfi_PercentageOfIncomeTaxExaminationMinimumLikelihoodOfTaxBenefitsBeingRealizedUponSettlement
Namespace Prefix:	gfi_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gfi_SignificantAccountingPoliciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	gfi_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Amount after allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences and carryforwards expected to be realized or consumed within one year or operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32537-109319

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=37586315&loc=d3e31917-109318

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=37586315&loc=d3e31931-109318

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=37586315&loc=d3e31928-109318

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 9
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=37586315&loc=d3e31958-109318

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNetCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Amount, after deferred tax asset, of deferred tax liability attributable to taxable differences, netted by jurisdiction and classified as current.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32621-109319

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 9
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=37586315&loc=d3e31958-109318

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=37586315&loc=d3e31917-109318

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=37586315&loc=d3e31931-109318

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32632-109319

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AdjustmentsForChangeInAccountingPrincipleAxis=gfi_ReclassificationCurrentToNonCurrentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: