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BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Investments In Unconsolidated Ventures) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | Mar. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
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Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |
Investment | $ 3.4 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments | $ 4.1 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments
Other Noncurrent Liabilities [Member] | Hibbing [Member] |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |
Investment |  | 3.1 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherNoncurrentLiabilitiesMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = clf_HibbingMember
Other Noncurrent Assets [Member] | Hibbing [Member] |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |
Ownership interest, equity method investment | 23.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherNoncurrentAssetsMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = clf_HibbingMember |
Investment | 2.5 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherNoncurrentAssetsMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = clf_HibbingMember |
Other Noncurrent Assets [Member] | Other Equity Investees [Member] |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |
Investment | $ 0.9 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherNoncurrentAssetsMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = clf_OtherEquityInvesteesMember | $ 1.0 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherNoncurrentAssetsMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = clf_OtherEquityInvesteesMember

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- Definition The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571 + Details
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