1.0.0.3 true Statements of Consolidated Changes in Stockholders Equity (USD $) In Millions false 1 $ true false false false Common Stock us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis xbrldi http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi us-gaap_CommonStockMember us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis explicitMember Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 false 2 $ true false false false Additional Paid-In Capital us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis xbrldi http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis explicitMember USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 false 3 $ true false false false Retained Earnings (Deficit) us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis xbrldi http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis explicitMember USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 false 4 $ true false false false Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis xbrldi http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis explicitMember USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 false 5 $ true false false false Noncontrolling Interest us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis xbrldi http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestMember us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis explicitMember USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 false 6 $ false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 USDEPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 6 Beginning Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2006 3 us-gaap_SharesIssued us-gaap true na instant shares No definition available. false false false true false false true false false 1 false true 451000000 451 true false 2 false false 0 0 true false 3 false false 0 0 true false 4 false false 0 0 true false 5 false false 0 0 true false 6 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 5 Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2006 3 us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false true false false true false false 1 true true 677000000 677 true false 2 true true 6703000000 6703 true false 3 true true 1284000000 1284 true false 4 true true 673000000 673 true false 5 true true 1098000000 1098 true false 6 true true 10435000000 10435 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 7 Net income (loss) 3 us-gaap_ProfitLoss us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 true false 2 false false 0 0 true false 3 false true -1895000000 -1895 true false 4 false false 0 0 true false 5 false true 410000000 410 true false 6 false true -1485000000 -1485 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 8 Other comprehensive income (loss) 3 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease us-gaap true na duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 true false 2 false false 0 0 true false 3 false false 0 0 true false 4 false true 284000000 284 true false 5 false true 4000000 4 true false 6 false true 288000000 288 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 9 Dividends paid 3 us-gaap_DividendsCommonStockCash us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 true false 2 false true -90000000 -90 true false 3 false true -91000000 -91 true false 4 false false 0 0 true false 5 false true -270000000 -270 true false 6 false true -451000000 -451 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 10 Uncertain tax positions 3 us-gaap_CumulativeEffectOfInitialAdoptionOfFIN48 us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 true false 2 false false 0 0 true false 3 false true -108000000 -108 true false 4 false false 0 0 true false 5 false true 4000000 4 true false 6 false true -104000000 -104 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 11 Acquisition of Miramar Mining Corporation 3 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueAcquisitions us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 true false 2 false false 0 0 true false 3 false false 0 0 true false 4 false false 0 0 true false 5 false true 39000000 39 true false 6 false true 39000000 39 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 14 Convertible debt issuance 3 us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalConvertibleDebtWithConversionFeature us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 true false 2 false true 220000000 220 true false 3 false false 0 0 true false 4 false false 0 0 true false 5 false false 0 0 true false 6 false true 220000000 220 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 15 Repayment of noncontrolling partner loan 3 us-gaap_MinorityInterestIncreaseFromStockIssuance us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 true false 2 false false 0 0 true false 3 false false 0 0 true false 4 false false 0 0 true false 5 false true 161000000 161 true false 6 false true 161000000 161 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 16 Other 3 us-gaap_StockholdersEquityOther us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 true false 2 false false 0 0 true false 3 false false 0 0 true false 4 false false 0 0 true false 5 false true 3000000 3 true false 6 false true 3000000 3 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 19 Stock based compensation and related share issuances 3 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 4000000 4 true false 2 false true 88000000 88 true false 3 false false 0 0 true false 4 false false 0 0 true false 5 false false 0 0 true false 6 false true 92000000 92 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 20 Stock based compensation and related share issuances, shares 3 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation us-gaap true na duration shares No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 2000000 2 true false 2 false false 0 0 true false 3 false false 0 0 true false 4 false false 0 0 true false 5 false false 0 0 true false 6 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 21 Shares issued in exchange for exchangeable shares 3 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueConversionOfConvertibleSecurities us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 15000000 15 true false 2 false true -15000000 -15 true false 3 false false 0 0 true false 4 false false 0 0 true false 5 false false 0 0 true false 6 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 22 Warrants issued (Note 12) 3 us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalWarrantIssued us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 true false 2 false true 248000000 248 true false 3 false false 0 0 true false 4 false false 0 0 true false 5 false false 0 0 true false 6 false true 248000000 248 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 23 Call options purchased (net of $128 deferred tax assets) 3 nem_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalCallOptionsPurchased nem false debit duration monetary Call options purchased. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 true false 2 false true -238000000 -238 true false 3 false false 0 0 true false 4 false false 0 0 true false 5 false false 0 0 true false 6 false true -238000000 -238 false false Call options purchased. No authoritative reference available. true 24 Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2007 3 us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false true false false false true false 1 false true 696000000 696 true false 2 false true 6916000000 6916 true false 3 false true -810000000 -810 true false 4 false true 957000000 957 true false 5 false true 1449000000 1449 true false 6 false true 9208000000 9208 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 25 Ending Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2007 3 us-gaap_SharesIssued us-gaap true na instant shares No definition available. false false false true false false false true false 1 false true 453000000 453 true false 2 false false 0 0 true false 3 false false 0 0 true false 4 false false 0 0 true false 5 false false 0 0 true false 6 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 7 Net income (loss) 3 us-gaap_ProfitLoss us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 true false 2 false false 0 0 true false 3 false true 831000000 831 true false 4 false false 0 0 true false 5 false true 329000000 329 true false 6 false true 1160000000 1160 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 8 Other comprehensive income (loss) 3 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease us-gaap true na duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 true false 2 false false 0 0 true false 3 false false 0 0 true false 4 false true -1210000000 -1210 true false 5 false true -2000000 -2 true false 6 false true -1212000000 -1212 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 9 Dividends paid 3 us-gaap_DividendsCommonStockCash us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 true false 2 false true -165000000 -165 true false 3 false true -17000000 -17 true false 4 false false 0 0 true false 5 false true -389000000 -389 true false 6 false true -571000000 -571 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 18 Acquisition of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interests 3 us-gaap_MinorityInterestDecreaseFromRedemptions us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 true false 2 false false 0 0 true false 3 false false 0 0 true false 4 false false 0 0 true false 5 false true -17000000 -17 true false 6 false true -17000000 -17 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 19 Stock based compensation and related share issuances 3 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 2000000 2 true false 2 false true 91000000 91 true false 3 false false 0 0 true false 4 false false 0 0 true false 5 false false 0 0 true false 6 false true 93000000 93 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 20 Stock based compensation and related share issuances, shares 3 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation us-gaap true na duration shares No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 2000000 2 true false 2 false false 0 0 true false 3 false false 0 0 true false 4 false false 0 0 true false 5 false false 0 0 true false 6 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 21 Shares issued in exchange for exchangeable shares 3 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueConversionOfConvertibleSecurities us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 11000000 11 true false 2 false true -11000000 -11 true false 3 false false 0 0 true false 4 false false 0 0 true false 5 false false 0 0 true false 6 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 24 Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2008 3 us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false true false false false true false 1 false true 709000000 709 true false 2 false true 6831000000 6831 true false 3 false true 4000000 4 true false 4 false true -253000000 -253 true false 5 false true 1370000000 1370 true false 6 false true 8661000000 8661 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 25 Ending Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2008 3 us-gaap_SharesIssued us-gaap true na instant shares No definition available. false false false true false false false true false 1 false true 455000000 455 true false 2 false false 0 0 true false 3 false false 0 0 true false 4 false false 0 0 true false 5 false false 0 0 true false 6 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 7 Net income (loss) 3 us-gaap_ProfitLoss us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 true false 2 false false 0 0 true false 3 false true 1297000000 1297 true false 4 false false 0 0 true false 5 false true 796000000 796 true false 6 false true 2093000000 2093 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 8 Other comprehensive income (loss) 3 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease us-gaap true na duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 true false 2 false false 0 0 true false 3 false false 0 0 true false 4 false true 879000000 879 true false 5 false true 3000000 3 true false 6 false true 882000000 882 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 9 Dividends paid 3 us-gaap_DividendsCommonStockCash us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 true false 2 false true -44000000 -44 true false 3 false true -152000000 -152 true false 4 false false 0 0 true false 5 false true -394000000 -394 true false 6 false true -590000000 -590 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 12 Common stock issuance 3 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueNewIssues us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 55000000 55 true false 2 false true 1179000000 1179 true false 3 false false 0 0 true false 4 false false 0 0 true false 5 false false 0 0 true false 6 false true 1234000000 1234 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 13 Common stock issuance, shares 3 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesNewIssues us-gaap true na duration shares No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 34000000 34 true false 2 false false 0 0 true false 3 false false 0 0 true false 4 false false 0 0 true false 5 false false 0 0 true false 6 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 14 Convertible debt issuance 3 us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalConvertibleDebtWithConversionFeature us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 true false 2 false true 46000000 46 true false 3 false false 0 0 true false 4 false false 0 0 true false 5 false false 0 0 true false 6 false true 46000000 46 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 17 Sale of subsidiary shares to noncontrolling interests 3 us-gaap_MinorityInterestDecreaseFromDistributionsToNoncontrollingInterestHolders us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 true false 2 false true 63000000 63 true false 3 false false 0 0 true false 4 false false 0 0 true false 5 false true 467000000 467 true false 6 false true 530000000 530 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 18 Acquisition of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interests 3 us-gaap_MinorityInterestDecreaseFromRedemptions us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 true false 2 false false 0 0 true false 3 false false 0 0 true false 4 false false 0 0 true false 5 false true -332000000 -332 true false 6 false true -332000000 -332 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 19 Stock based compensation and related share issuances 3 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 3000000 3 true false 2 false true 86000000 86 true false 3 false false 0 0 true false 4 false false 0 0 true false 5 false false 0 0 true false 6 false true 89000000 89 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 20 Stock based compensation and related share issuances, shares 3 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation us-gaap true na duration shares No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 2000000 2 true false 2 false false 0 0 true false 3 false false 0 0 true false 4 false false 0 0 true false 5 false false 0 0 true false 6 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 21 Shares issued in exchange for exchangeable shares 3 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueConversionOfConvertibleSecurities us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 3000000 3 true false 2 false true -3000000 -3 true false 3 false false 0 0 true false 4 false false 0 0 true false 5 false false 0 0 true false 6 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 24 Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2009 3 us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest us-gaap true credit instant monetary No definition available. false false false true false false false true false 1 true true 770000000 770 true false 2 true true 8158000000 8158 true false 3 true true 1149000000 1149 true false 4 true true 626000000 626 true false 5 true true 1910000000 1910 true false 6 true true 12613000000 12613 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 25 Ending Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2009 3 us-gaap_SharesIssued us-gaap true na instant shares No definition available. false false false true false false false true false 1 false true 491000000 491 true false 2 false false 0 0 true false 3 false false 0 0 true false 4 false false 0 0 true false 5 false false 0 0 true false 6 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false false 6 39 false Millions Millions UnKnown false true