Earnings Per Common Share (Details) (USD $) Share data in Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Reconciliation between basic and diluted earnings per common share [Line Items]
Net loss attributable to Golden Star shareholders	$ (6,559,000)	$ 9,113,000
Weighted average number of shares (shares)	259.1	258.7
Dilutive securities:
Options	0	0.2
Deferred stock units	$ 0	$ 0
Convertible debentures	0	0
Weighted average number of diluted shares	259.1	258.9
Net loss per share attributable to Golden Star shareholders:
Basic	$ (0.03)	$ 0.04
Diluted	$ (0.03)	$ 0.04
Options
Net loss per share attributable to Golden Star shareholders:
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of diluted weighted average common shares	14.4	12.5
Deferred Share Units
Net loss per share attributable to Golden Star shareholders:
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of diluted weighted average common shares	0.5	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

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