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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, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2014 | May 30, 2018
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 |
Legal settlement amount |  |  |  | $ 185.1
Capital allowance recognized |  |  | $ 925.5 | $ 53.7
South African - Components of Mining and Income Tax [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure of Estimated Amount Available for Set Off Against Future Income Pretax [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Gross unredeemed capital expenditure | $ 1,641.1 | $ 3,143.5 |  |
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 |  |
GFI Joint Venture Holdings (Proprietary) Limited [Member] | South African - Components of Mining and Income Tax [Member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure of Estimated Amount Available for Set Off Against Future Income Pretax [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Gross unredeemed capital expenditure | $ 1,003.1 | $ 2,427.1 |  |
Gross recognised capital allowance | 1,003.1 | 925.5 |  |
Gross unrecognised capital allowance | 0.0 | 1,501.6 |  |
Exploration Entities [member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure of Estimated Amount Available for Set Off Against Future Income Pretax [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Total tax losses | 430.0 | 445.9 |  |
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 | 19.0 | 44.5 |  |
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 | 2.9 | 19.0 |  |
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 | 31.5 | 91.7 |  |
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 | 27.5 | 46.2 |  |
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 | 18.6 | 22.9 |  |
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 | 27.6 | 57.6 |  |
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 | 20.3 | 30.4 |  |
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 | 42.3 | 43.2 |  |
No Expiry Date [member] | Exploration Entities [member] |  |  |  |
Disclosure of Estimated Amount Available for Set Off Against Future Income Pretax [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Total tax losses | $ 320.9 | $ 291.8 |  |

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