Earnings Per Common Share (Details) (USD $) Share data in Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Reconciliation between basic and diluted earnings per common share [Line Items]
Net loss attributable to Golden Star shareholders									$ (9,490,000)	$ (2,075,000)	$ (11,229,000)
Weighted average shares outstanding (millions) (shares)									258.9	258.6	258.0
Dilutive securities:
Options									0	0	0
Deferred stock units									$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Convertible debentures									0	0	0
Weighted average number of diluted shares (millions)									258.9	258.6	258.0
Net loss per share attributable to Golden Star shareholders:
Basic	$ 0.04	$ (0.12)	$ 0.01	$ 0.04	$ 0.03	$ (0.04)	$ (0.02)	$ 0.02	$ (0.04)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.04)
Diluted	$ 0.03	$ (0.12)	$ 0.01	$ 0.04	$ 0.03	$ (0.04)	$ (0.02)	$ 0.02	$ (0.04)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.04)
Options
Net loss per share attributable to Golden Star shareholders:
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of diluted weighted average common shares									12.3	8.5
Deferred Share Units
Net loss per share attributable to Golden Star shareholders:
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of diluted weighted average common shares									0.4	0
Convertible debentures
Net loss per share attributable to Golden Star shareholders:
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of diluted weighted average common shares									47.0	25.0