Stock Based Compensation - Narrative (Details)	12 Months Ended							1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended								3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Stock Options USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Stock Options USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 Stock Options USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) USD ($)	May 31, 2010 Third Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option Plan Stock Options	Dec. 31, 2012 Third Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option Plan Stock Options USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Third Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option Plan Stock Options CAD	Dec. 31, 2011 Third Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option Plan Stock Options USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Third Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option Plan Stock Options CAD	Dec. 31, 2010 Third Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option Plan Stock Options USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 Third Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option Plan Stock Options CAD	Dec. 31, 2012 Third Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option Plan Stock Options Maximum	Dec. 31, 2012 Third Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option Plan Stock Options Minimum	Mar. 31, 2012 Stock Bonus Plan Performance Shares USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Stock Bonus Plan Performance Shares	Dec. 31, 2011 Stock Bonus Plan Performance Shares	Dec. 31, 2012 Deferred Share Units Plan Deferred Share Units USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Deferred Compensation, Share-based Payments USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Deferred Compensation, Share-based Payments USD ($)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Exercisable period for opions granted								10 years
Number of option shares authorized under the Plan									25,000,000	25,000,000								900,000
Number of option shares available for grant under the Plan									5,029,646	5,029,646
Options vesting period - Range							3 years								3 years	0 years
Options granted (options)				5,164,000	2,288,000	1,599,000			5,164,000	5,164,000	2,288,000	2,288,000	1,599,000	1,599,000
Weighted average grant date fair value - nonvested option granted (Cdn$ per share)				$ 1.21	$ 1.78	$ 2.54			$ 1.20				$ 2.54
Options exercised - Aggregate intrinsic value									$ 100,000	125,000	$ 300,000	0	$ 2,400,000	2,423,000
Unrecognized compensation expense related to deferred share units																				0
Weighted average recognition period for unrecognized compensation expense	2 years
Total fair value of shares vested during the years ended	3,700,000	3,600,000	2,900,000
Common shares issued in period																	165,009	710,854	0
Value of shares issued in period																	300,000
Number of Golden Star common shares to be received for each DSU																				$ 1
Total stock compensation expense	6,111,000	3,385,000	2,975,000				300,000														600,000	49,500
Equity instruments (other than options) granted in period							1,543,043
Equity instruments (other than options) forfeited in period							463,636
Number of equity instruments (other than options) outstanding							1,079,407
Total unrecognized compensation cost							$ 800,000
Options exercised - Weighted average exercise price										1.45		1.78		2.11