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Accounting Policies - Summary of Significant Assumptions Used in the Group's Impairment Assessments (FVLCOD calculations) (Detail) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2017 $ / oz $ / oz R / kg R / oz Exchange_Rate oz | Dec. 31, 2016 $ / oz $ / oz R / kg R / oz Exchange_Rate oz
Disclosure of changes in accounting estimates [line items] |  |
Resource value per ounce | 17.0 | 60.0
US Dollars [member] |  |
Disclosure of changes in accounting estimates [line items] |  |
Gold price | 1,300 | 1,300
Rand [member] |  |
Disclosure of changes in accounting estimates [line items] |  |
Gold price | R / kg | 525,000 | 600,000
Resource value per ounce | 17 | 60
Real discount rates | 13.50% | 13.50%
Inflation rate | 5.50% | 5.50%
Australia, Dollars [member] |  |
Disclosure of changes in accounting estimates [line items] |  |
Resource value per ounce | 293 | 60
Real discount rates | 3.80% | 3.80%
Ghanaian cedi [Member] |  |
Disclosure of changes in accounting estimates [line items] |  |
Resource value per ounce | 41 | 60
Real discount rates | 9.70% | 9.70%
Peru, Nuevos Soles [Member] |  |
Disclosure of changes in accounting estimates [line items] |  |
Resource value per ounce | 41 | 60
Real discount rates | 4.80% | 4.80%
Year 1 [Member] | US Dollars [member] |  |
Disclosure of changes in accounting estimates [line items] |  |
Gold price | 1,200 | 1,100
Copper price per tonne | oz | 5,512 | 5,512
Year 1 [Member] | Rand [member] |  |
Disclosure of changes in accounting estimates [line items] |  |
Gold price | R / oz | 525,000 | 500,000
Long-term exchange rates | Exchange_Rate | 13.61 | 14.14
Year 1 [Member] | Australia, Dollars [member] |  |
Disclosure of changes in accounting estimates [line items] |  |
Gold price | 1,600 | 1,500
Long-term exchange rates | Exchange_Rate | 0.75 | 0.73
Year 2 [Member] | US Dollars [member] |  |
Disclosure of changes in accounting estimates [line items] |  |
Gold price | 1,300 | 1,200
Copper price per tonne | oz | 6,171 | 5,512
Year 2 [Member] | Rand [member] |  |
Disclosure of changes in accounting estimates [line items] |  |
Gold price | R / oz | 525,000 | 550,000
Long-term exchange rates | Exchange_Rate | 13.16 | 14.26
Year 2 [Member] | Australia, Dollars [member] |  |
Disclosure of changes in accounting estimates [line items] |  |
Gold price | 1,700 | 1,600
Long-term exchange rates | Exchange_Rate | 0.76 | 0.75
Year 3 [Member] | US Dollars [member] |  |
Disclosure of changes in accounting estimates [line items] |  |
Gold price | 1,300 | 1,300
Copper price per tonne | oz | 6,171 | 6,171
Year 3 [Member] | Rand [member] |  |
Disclosure of changes in accounting estimates [line items] |  |
Gold price | R / oz | 525,000 | 600,000
Long-term exchange rates | Exchange_Rate | 13.16 | 14.36
Year 3 [Member] | Australia, Dollars [member] |  |
Disclosure of changes in accounting estimates [line items] |  |
Gold price | 1,700 | 1,700
Long-term exchange rates | Exchange_Rate | 0.76 | 0.76

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