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PENSIONS AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS (Estimated Net Periodic Benefit Cost) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items] |  |
Estimated net periodic benefit cost | $ 29.6 clf_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedNetPeriodicBenefitCost |
Pension Benefits [Member] |  |
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items] |  |
Defined Benefit Plan, Contributions by Plan Participants | 0 us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByPlanParticipants / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember | 0 us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByPlanParticipants / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Estimated net periodic benefit cost | 23.6 clf_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedNetPeriodicBenefitCost / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember |
Other Benefits [Member] |  |
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items] |  |
Defined Benefit Plan, Contributions by Plan Participants | 4.8 us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByPlanParticipants / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember | 5.6 us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByPlanParticipants / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Estimated net periodic benefit cost | $ 6.0 clf_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedNetPeriodicBenefitCost / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember |

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- Definition The amount of contributions made by plan participants. This item represents a periodic increase to the plan obligation and an increase to plan assets. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b)(4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35743120&loc=d3e1928-114920 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35743120&loc=d3e1928-114920 + Details
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