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STOCK COMPENSATION PLANS (Narrative) (Details) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Agreement Plan shares | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) $ / shares shares | Dec. 31, 2014 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 | $ | $ 14,200,000 | $ 13,900,000 | $ 21,500,000
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Tax Benefit from Compensation Expense | $ | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 7,500,000
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Plan Year Agreements | Agreement | 3 |  |
Number of performance shares granted | 3,571,337 |  |
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized | $ | $ 14,700,000 |  |
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition | 1 year 9 months 15 days |  |
Option Indexed to Issuer's Equity, Strike Price | $ / shares |  | $ 13.83 |
Common Stock, Shares Authorized | 400,000,000 | 400,000,000 |
2015 Equity Plan [Member] |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |
Performance/vesting period | 27 months |  |
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] |  |  |
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] |  |  |
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Fair Value of Shares Issued | $ | $ 85,000 |  |
2012 Equity Plan [Member] |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |
Performance/vesting period | 3 years |  |
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] | 2012 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] | 2012 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] |  |  |
Performance/vesting period | 3 years |  |
Number of restricted shares granted | 3,400,000 | 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 + Details
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- Definition Weighted average period over which unrecognized compensation is expected to be recognized for equity-based compensation plans, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (i) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
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