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STOCK COMPENSATION PLANS (Narrative) (Details) | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) shares | Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Agreement Plan shares | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) $ / shares shares | Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Plans | Plan |  |  |  | 2 |  |
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense | $ |  |  |  | $ 13,900,000 | $ 21,500,000 | $ 19,100,000
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Tax Benefit from Compensation Expense | $ |  |  |  | $ 0 | $ 7,500,000 | $ 6,700,000
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Plan Year Agreements | Agreement |  |  |  | 3 |  |
Number of performance shares granted |  |  |  | 3,769,700 |  |
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized | $ |  |  |  | $ 23,500,000 |  |
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition |  |  |  | 2 years 6 months 20 days |  |
Option Indexed to Issuer's Equity, Strike Price | $ / shares |  |  |  |  | $ 13.83 |
Common Stock, Shares Authorized | 400,000,000 |  |  | 400,000,000 | 400,000,000 |
2015 Equity Plan [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Maximum number of shares that may be issued (in shares) |  |  |  | 12,900,000 |  |
Two Thousand Twelve Equity Plan and Amended Equity Plan [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Performance/vesting period |  |  | 3 years |  |  |
Payout rate, as a percentage of the original grant |  |  |  |  |  | 23.00%
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Additional Shares Available for Issuance Proposed to be added to the Plan |  |  |  | 5,000,000 |  |
Directors Plan [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Stock Issued During Period Value Director Stock Award | $ | $ 42,500 | $ 42,500 |  |  | $ 85,000 |
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Fair Value of Shares Issued | $ |  |  |  | $ 85,000 | 250,000 |
Directors Plan [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Maximum number of shares that may be issued (in shares) |  |  |  | 300,000 |  |
2012 Equity Plan [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of shares granted under the award |  |  |  | 900,000 |  |
Number of performance shares granted |  |  |  | 900,000 |  |
Number of restricted shares granted |  |  |  | 400,000 |  |
Change in Control [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense | $ |  |  |  |  | $ 11,700,000 |
2015 to 2017 Performance Period [Member] | Two Thousand Twelve Equity Plan and Amended Equity Plan [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Payout rate, as a percentage of the original grant |  |  | 0.00% |  |  |
2015 to 2017 Performance Period [Member] | Two Thousand Twelve Equity Plan and Amended Equity Plan [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Payout rate, as a percentage of the original grant |  |  | 200.00% |  |  |
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member] | 2015 Equity Plan [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of restricted shares granted |  |  |  | 1,500,000 |  |
Cliffs Natural Resource Inc. 2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Common Stock, Shares Authorized |  |  |  | 10,000,000 |  |

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- Definition Represents the expense recognized during the period arising from equity-based compensation arrangements (for example, shares of stock, unit, stock options or other equity instruments) with employees, directors and certain consultants qualifying for treatment as employees. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 14.F) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27013229&loc=d3e301413-122809 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5047-113901 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (h)(1)(i) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 14 -Section F + Details
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