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Major Group Investments - Direct and Indirect - Schedule of Major Group Investments - Direct and Indirect (Parenthetical) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016
Disclosure of subsidiaries [line items] |  |  |
Dividends paid to non-controlling interests | $ 9.8 | $ 6.4 | $ 0.2
Accumulated non-controlling interest | 120.8 | 127.2 |
Abosso Goldfields Limited [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of subsidiaries [line items] |  |  |
Accumulated non-controlling interest | 5.2 | 5.8 |
Dividends paid to non-controlling interests | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Gold Fields Ghana Limited [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of subsidiaries [line items] |  |  |
Dividends paid to non-controlling interests | 9.2 | 5.8 |
Accumulated non-controlling interest | 115.3 | 119.2 |
Gold Fields La Cima SA [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of subsidiaries [line items] |  |  |
Dividends paid to non-controlling interests | 0.6 | 0.6 |
Accumulated non-controlling interest | $ 1.9 | $ 2.4 |
Newshelf 899 (Pty) Ltd [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of subsidiaries [line items] |  |  |
Phase-in participation term | 20 years |  |
BEE partners' stake | 10.00% |  |
Newshelf ownership percentage | 90.00% |  |

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