Shareholders' Equity And Comprehensive Income (Changes In Comprehensive Income) (Details) (USD $) In Millions |
3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sep. 30, 2011 |
Sep. 30, 2010 |
Sep. 30, 2011 |
Sep. 30, 2010 |
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| Beginning Balance | Ìý | Ìý | $ 3,845.9 | Ìý |
| Beginning Balance | Ìý | Ìý | (7.2) | Ìý |
| Beginning Balance | Ìý | Ìý | 3,838.7 | Ìý |
| Net income | 589.5 | 297.4 | 1,420.6 | 635.4 |
| Net income | 151.8 | Ìý | 170.1 | Ìý |
| Net income | 741.3 | 297.4 | 1,590.7 | 635.4 |
| Total comprehensive income | 434.3 | 457.2 | 1,315.4 | 776.5 |
| Share buyback | Ìý | Ìý | 221.9 | Ìý |
| Ending Balance | 5,723.4 | Ìý | 5,723.4 | Ìý |
| Ending Balance | 1,128.4 | Ìý | 1,128.4 | Ìý |
| Ending Balance | 6,851.8 | Ìý | 6,851.8 | Ìý |
Cliffs Shareholders' Equity [Member] |
Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý |
| Beginning Balance | Ìý | Ìý | 3,845.9 | Ìý |
| Net income | Ìý | Ìý | 1,420.6 | Ìý |
| Other comprehensive income | Ìý | Ìý | (105.2) | Ìý |
| Total comprehensive income | Ìý | Ìý | 1,315.4 | Ìý |
| Share buyback | Ìý | Ìý | (221.9) | Ìý |
| Equity offering | Ìý | Ìý | 853.7 | Ìý |
| Purchase of additional noncontrolling interest | Ìý | Ìý | 0.3 | Ìý |
| Stock and other incentive plans | Ìý | Ìý | 8.8 | Ìý |
| Common stock dividends | Ìý | Ìý | (78.8) | Ìý |
| Ending Balance | 5,723.4 | Ìý | 5,723.4 | Ìý |
Non- Controlling Interest [Member] |
Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý |
| Beginning Balance | Ìý | Ìý | (7.2) | Ìý |
| Net income | Ìý | Ìý | 170.1 | Ìý |
| Other comprehensive income | Ìý | Ìý | 0.5 | Ìý |
| Total comprehensive income | Ìý | Ìý | 170.6 | Ìý |
| Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interest | Ìý | Ìý | 4.5 | Ìý |
| Undistributed gains to noncontrolling interest | Ìý | Ìý | 12.6 | Ìý |
| Capital contribution by noncontrolling interest to subsidiary | Ìý | Ìý | 0.3 | Ìý |
| Acquisition of controlling interest | Ìý | Ìý | 947.6 | Ìý |
| Ending Balance | 1,128.4 | Ìý | 1,128.4 | Ìý |
Total Comprehensive Income [Member] |
Ìý | Ìý | Ìý | Ìý |
| Beginning Balance | Ìý | Ìý | 3,838.7 | Ìý |
| Net income | Ìý | Ìý | 1,590.7 | Ìý |
| Other comprehensive income | Ìý | Ìý | (104.7) | Ìý |
| Total comprehensive income | Ìý | Ìý | 1,486.0 | Ìý |
| Share buyback | Ìý | Ìý | (221.9) | Ìý |
| Equity offering | Ìý | Ìý | 853.7 | Ìý |
| Purchase of additional noncontrolling interest | Ìý | Ìý | 0.3 | Ìý |
| Stock and other incentive plans | Ìý | Ìý | 8.8 | Ìý |
| Common stock dividends | Ìý | Ìý | (78.8) | Ìý |
| Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interest | Ìý | Ìý | 4.5 | Ìý |
| Undistributed gains to noncontrolling interest | Ìý | Ìý | 12.6 | Ìý |
| Capital contribution by noncontrolling interest to subsidiary | Ìý | Ìý | 0.3 | Ìý |
| Acquisition of controlling interest | Ìý | Ìý | 947.6 | Ìý |
| Ending Balance | $ 6,851.8 | Ìý | $ 6,851.8 | Ìý |
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Undistributed gains to noncontrolling interest.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition The change in equity [net assets] of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources which are attributable to the reporting entity. It includes all changes in equity during a period except those resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners, but excludes any and all transactions which are directly or indirectly attributable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition The change in equity [net assets] of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources which are attributable to noncontrolling interests, if any. It includes all changes in equity during a period except those resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners, which are directly or indirectly attributable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition The change in equity [net assets] of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources which are attributable to the economic entity, including both controlling (parent) and noncontrolling interests. It includes all changes in equity during a period except those resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners, including any and all transactions which are directly or indirectly attributable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Equity impact of common stock cash dividends declared by an entity during the period. This element includes paid and unpaid dividends declared during the period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Total of all stockholders' equity (deficit) items, net of receivables from officers, directors, owners, and affiliates of the entity which is directly or indirectly attributable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent (noncontrolling interest, minority interest). Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Decrease in noncontrolling interest (for example, but not limited to, redeeming or purchasing the interests of noncontrolling shareholders, issuance of shares (interests) by the non-wholly owned subsidiary to the parent entity for other than cash, and a buyback of shares (interest) by the non-wholly owned subsidiary from the noncontrolling interests). Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Represents an increase in noncontrolling interest from issuance of additional equity interests to noncontrolling interest holders or the sale of a portion of the parent's controlling interest. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Net Increase or Decrease in balance of noncontrolling interest in the subsidiary during the reporting period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition The portion of net Income or Loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest (if any) deducted in order to derive the portion attributable to the parent. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Increase in noncontrolling interest balance because of a business combination that occurred during the period.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition This element represents Other Comprehensive Income or Loss, Net of Tax, for the period. Includes deferred gains or losses on qualifying hedges, unrealized holding gains or losses on available-for-sale securities, minimum pension liability, and cumulative translation adjustment. While for technical reasons this element has no balance attribute, the default assumption is a credit balance consistent with its label. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition This element represents Other Comprehensive Income or Loss, Net of Tax, for the period attributable to noncontrolling interest. Includes deferred gains or losses on qualifying hedges, unrealized holding gains or losses on available-for-sale securities, minimum pension liability, and cumulative translation adjustment. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition This element represents Other Comprehensive Income or Loss, Net of Tax, for the period attributable to the parent entity. Includes deferred gains or losses on qualifying hedges, unrealized holding gains or losses on available-for-sale securities, minimum pension liability, and cumulative translation adjustment. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition The cash outflow to reacquire common and preferred stock. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition The consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, including the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Total of all stockholders' equity (deficit) items, net of receivables from officers, directors, owners, and affiliates of the entity which are attributable to the parent. The amount of the economic entity's stockholders' equity attributable to the parent excludes the amount of stockholders' equity which is allocable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent (noncontrolling interest, minority interest). This excludes temporary equity and is sometimes called permanent equity. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Total of Stockholders' Equity (deficit) items, net of receivables from officers, directors, owners, and affiliates of the entity including portions attributable to both the parent and noncontrolling interests (previously referred to as minority interest), if any. The entity including portions attributable to the parent and noncontrolling interests is sometimes referred to as the economic entity. This excludes temporary equity and is sometimes called permanent equity. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Equity impact of the value of new stock issued during the period. Includes shares issued in an initial public offering or a secondary public offering. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Value stock issued during the period as a result of the exercise of stock options. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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