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Mining and Income Taxation - Summary of Estimated Available for Set-off Against Future Income Pre Tax (Parenthetical) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2014
South African Revenue Service [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of Estimated Amount Available for Set Off Against Future Income Pretax [Line Items] |  |  |
Gross recognised capital allowance disallowed |  |  | $ 182.2
GFI Joint Venture Holdings (Proprietary) Limited [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of Estimated Amount Available for Set Off Against Future Income Pretax [Line Items] |  |  |
Gross recognised capital allowance | $ 925.5 | $ 796.6 |
Gross unrecognised capital allowance | 1,501.6 | 1,132.6 |
Exploration Entities [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of Estimated Amount Available for Set Off Against Future Income Pretax [Line Items] |  |  |
Total tax losses | $ 445.9 | $ 388.8 |
Abosso Goldfields Limited [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of Estimated Amount Available for Set Off Against Future Income Pretax [Line Items] |  |  |
Tax losses carry forward period | Five Years | Five Years |
Tax Losses Expiring Between 1 and 2 Years [Member] | Exploration Entities [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of Estimated Amount Available for Set Off Against Future Income Pretax [Line Items] |  |  |
Total tax losses | $ 22.9 | $ 10.9 |
Tax Losses Expiring Between 2 and 5 Years [Member] | Exploration Entities [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of Estimated Amount Available for Set Off Against Future Income Pretax [Line Items] |  |  |
Total tax losses | 57.6 | 58.9 |
Tax Losses Expiring Between 5 and 10 Years [Member] | Exploration Entities [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of Estimated Amount Available for Set Off Against Future Income Pretax [Line Items] |  |  |
Total tax losses | 30.4 | 41.2 |
Tax Losses Expiring After 10 Years [Member] | Exploration Entities [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of Estimated Amount Available for Set Off Against Future Income Pretax [Line Items] |  |  |
Total tax losses | 43.2 | 40.6 |
No Expiry Date [Member] | Exploration Entities [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of Estimated Amount Available for Set Off Against Future Income Pretax [Line Items] |  |  |
Total tax losses | 291.8 | 237.2 |
Tax Losses Expire in 2 Years [Member] | Abosso Goldfields Limited [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of Estimated Amount Available for Set Off Against Future Income Pretax [Line Items] |  |  |
Tax losses | 44.5 | 46.3 |
Tax Losses Expire in 3 Years [Member] | Abosso Goldfields Limited [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of Estimated Amount Available for Set Off Against Future Income Pretax [Line Items] |  |  |
Tax losses expiration value | 19.0 | 0.0 |
Tax Losses Expire in 4 Years [Member] | Abosso Goldfields Limited [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of Estimated Amount Available for Set Off Against Future Income Pretax [Line Items] |  |  |
Tax losses expiration value | 91.7 | 19.4 |
Tax Losses Expire in 5 Years [Member] | Abosso Goldfields Limited [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of Estimated Amount Available for Set Off Against Future Income Pretax [Line Items] |  |  |
Tax losses expiration value | $ 46.2 | $ 3.0 |

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