Earnings Per Common Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data in Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Reconciliation between basic and diluted earnings per common share [Line Items]
Net income/(loss) attributable to Golden Star shareholders	$ 2,483	$ (5,048)	$ 11,597	$ 880
Weighted average number of shares (millions) (shares)	258.8	258.6	258.8	258.6
Dilutive securities:
Options (millions)	0.1	0	0	0.6
Convertible debentures	0	0	0	0
Weighted average number of diluted shares (millions)	258.9	258.6	258.8	259.2
Net income/ (loss) per share attributable to Golden Star shareholders:
Basic	$ 0.010	$ (0.020)	$ 0.045	$ 0.003
Diluted	$ 0.010	$ (0.020)	$ 0.045	$ 0.003
Options
Net income/ (loss) per share attributable to Golden Star shareholders:
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of diluted weighted average common shares			12.4	7.8
Convertible debentures
Net income/ (loss) per share attributable to Golden Star shareholders:
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of diluted weighted average common shares			57.0	57.0