XML 126 R104.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.6.0.2

INCOME TAXES (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Unrecognized Tax Benefits | $ 30.7 | $ 156.2 | $ 72.6 | $ 71.8
Undistributed Earnings of Foreign Subsidiaries | 0.0 | 0.0 |  |
Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards, State and Local | 3,700.0 | 3,900.0 |  |
Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards, Foreign | 6,900.0 | 11,100.0 |  |
Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Credit Carryforwards, Foreign | 5.8 | 5.8 |  |
Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Credit Carryforwards, Alternative Minimum Tax | 251.2 | 218.7 |  |
Valuation Allowance, Deferred Tax Asset, Change in Amount | 0.0 |  |  |
Impact Of Tax Law Change | $ 149.1 | $ 0.0 | $ 13.0 |
Effective Income Tax Rate, Continuing Operations | 35.00% | 35.00% | 35.00% |
Current Fiscal Year End Date | --12-31 |  |  |
Reversal of Valuation Allowance on MRRT credits [Member] |  |  |  |
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Valuation Allowance, Deferred Tax Asset, Change in Amount | $ 33.1 |  |  |
Close of Audits [Domain] |  |  |  |
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Valuation Allowance, Deferred Tax Asset, Change in Amount | 39.6 |  |  |
Tax Asset, Current Year Activity [Domain] |  |  |  |
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Valuation Allowance, Deferred Tax Asset, Change in Amount | 104.9 |  |  |
Other Noncurrent Assets [Member] |  |  |  |
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Unrecognized Tax Benefits | 22.4 | $ 134.7 |  |
Other Liabilities [Member] |  |  |  |
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Unrecognized Tax Benefits | 8.3 | 21.5 |  |
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued | 0.8 | $ 2.1 |  |
Deferred Tax Asset, Alternative Minimum Tax Credit Not Utilized [Member] |  |  |  |
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards, Foreign | $ 1,400.0 |  |  |

X
- Definition Impact Of Tax Law Change + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | clf_ImpactOfTaxLawChange
Namespace Prefix: | clf_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition End date of current fiscal year in the format --MM-DD. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | dei_CurrentFiscalYearEndDate
Namespace Prefix: | dei_
Data Type: | xbrli:gMonthDayItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible foreign operating loss carryforwards. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65882285&loc=d3e32621-109319 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65882285&loc=d3e32632-109319 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 20 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68052875&loc=d3e28680-109314 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsForeign
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible state and local operating loss carryforwards. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65882285&loc=d3e32632-109319 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65882285&loc=d3e32621-109319 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 20 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68052875&loc=d3e28680-109314 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsStateAndLocal
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Alternative Minimum Tax -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6504908 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65882285&loc=d3e32559-109319 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65882285&loc=d3e32632-109319 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65882285&loc=d3e32621-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwardsAlternativeMinimumTax
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible foreign tax credit carryforwards. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65882285&loc=d3e32559-109319 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65882285&loc=d3e32621-109319 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65882285&loc=d3e32632-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwardsForeign
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Percentage of current income tax expense (benefit) and deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to continuing operations. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 13 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65882285&loc=d3e32698-109319 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h)(2)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 12 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65882285&loc=d3e32687-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeTaxContingencyLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries intended to be permanently reinvested outside the country of domicile. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 740 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6487024&loc=d3e29054-158556 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 740 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6479915&loc=d3e66715-112838 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 995 -SubTopic 740 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6503627&loc=d3e59836-110443 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68052875&loc=d3e28200-109314 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b)(c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6424122&loc=d3e41874-109331 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_UndistributedEarningsOfForeignSubsidiaries
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of unrecognized tax benefits. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15A -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65882285&loc=SL6600010-109319 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Unrecognized Tax Benefit -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6527854 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount accrued for interest on an underpayment of income taxes and penalties related to a tax position claimed or expected to be claimed in the tax return. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65882285&loc=d3e32718-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) in the valuation allowance for a specified deferred tax asset. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 20 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=75116654&loc=d3e32123-109318 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceByDeferredTaxAssetAxis=clf_ReversalofDeferredTaxAssetMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceByDeferredTaxAssetAxis=clf_CloseofAuditsDomain
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceByDeferredTaxAssetAxis=clf_TaxAssetCurrentYearActivityDomain
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis=us-gaap_OtherNoncurrentAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis=us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | clf_IncomeTaxDescriptionAxis=clf_DeferredTaxAssetAlternativeMinimumTaxCreditNotUtilizedMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |