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Assets Held for Sale - Assets Held for Sale (Parenthetical) (Detail) - APP [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
Assets Held For Sale [line items] |  |  |
Impairment loss | $ 39.0 | $ 3.2 | $ 89.7
Carrying value of assets held for sale | $ 1.0 | $ 40.0 |

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- Definition Line items for assets held for sale table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gfi_AssetsHeldForSaleLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | gfi_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Carrying value of assets held for sale. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gfi_CarryingValueOfAssetsHeldForSale
Namespace Prefix: | gfi_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition Impairment loss as per IFRS 5. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gfi_ImpairmentLossOnNoncurrentAssetsHeldForSale
Namespace Prefix: | gfi_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_ClassesOfAssetsAxis=gfi_AppMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |