Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011		Dec. 31, 2011
Financial Information of Newmont's Segments
Sales	$ 2,480		$ 2,744		$ 7,392		$ 7,593
Costs Applicable to Sales	1,088	[1]	1,008	[1]	3,107	[1]	2,865	[1]
Amortization	272		270		751		776
Advanced Projects and Exploration	189		197		567		502
Pre-Tax Income (Loss)	717		1,036		2,310		2,856
Totals Assets	29,523		29,139		29,523		29,139		27,474
Capital Expenditures					2,387		1,913
Segment Information (Textuals) [Abstract]
Change in accrued capital expenditures					7		132
Consolidated capital expenditures on a cash basis					2,394		1,781
Nevada [Member]
Financial Information of Newmont's Segments
Sales	734		712		2,028		1,823
Costs Applicable to Sales	292		267		817		763
Amortization	61		69		161		197
Advanced Projects and Exploration	47		39		124		94
Pre-Tax Income (Loss)	330		333		916		744
Totals Assets	7,420		6,820		7,420		6,820
Capital Expenditures					520		380
La Herradura [Member]
Financial Information of Newmont's Segments
Sales	88		92		274		238
Costs Applicable to Sales	31		31		96		76
Amortization	5		6		16		15
Advanced Projects and Exploration	11		5		28		14
Pre-Tax Income (Loss)	39		54		130		134
Totals Assets	388		308		388		308
Capital Expenditures					41		55
Other North America [Member]
Financial Information of Newmont's Segments
Sales	0		0		0		0
Costs Applicable to Sales	0		0		0		0
Amortization	0		3		0		10
Advanced Projects and Exploration	1		52		2		149
Pre-Tax Income (Loss)	(24)		(56)		(130)		(114)
Totals Assets	204		2,226		204		2,226
Capital Expenditures					9		74
Total North America [Member]
Financial Information of Newmont's Segments
Sales	822		804		2,302		2,061
Costs Applicable to Sales	323		298		913		839
Amortization	66		78		177		222
Advanced Projects and Exploration	59		96		154		257
Pre-Tax Income (Loss)	345		331		916		764
Totals Assets	8,012		9,354		8,012		9,354
Capital Expenditures					570		509
Yanacocha [Member]
Financial Information of Newmont's Segments
Sales	585		544		1,793		1,430
Costs Applicable to Sales	185		194		523		537
Amortization	83		67		195		186
Advanced Projects and Exploration	14		8		49		25
Pre-Tax Income (Loss)	254		280		936		661
Totals Assets	2,812		2,683		2,812		2,683
Capital Expenditures					392		244
Conga [Member]
Financial Information of Newmont's Segments
Sales	0		0		0		0
Costs Applicable to Sales	0		0		0		0
Amortization	0		0		0		0
Advanced Projects and Exploration	9		11		48		21
Pre-Tax Income (Loss)	(12)		(10)		(51)		(21)
Totals Assets	1,617		776		1,617		776
Capital Expenditures					467		448
Other South America [Member]
Financial Information of Newmont's Segments
Sales	0		0		0		0
Costs Applicable to Sales	0		0		0		0
Amortization	0		0		0		0
Advanced Projects and Exploration	15		11		59		25
Pre-Tax Income (Loss)	(10)		(11)		(54)		(26)
Totals Assets	30		36		30		36
Capital Expenditures					0		0
Total South America [Member]
Financial Information of Newmont's Segments
Sales	585		544		1,793		1,430
Costs Applicable to Sales	185		194		523		537
Amortization	83		67		195		186
Advanced Projects and Exploration	38		30		156		71
Pre-Tax Income (Loss)	232		259		831		614
Totals Assets	4,459		3,495		4,459		3,495
Capital Expenditures					859		692
Boddington [Member]
Financial Information of Newmont's Segments
Sales	341		285		1,006		893
Costs Applicable to Sales	194		140		556		412
Amortization	44		34		143		107
Advanced Projects and Exploration	2		3		7		6
Pre-Tax Income (Loss)	98		124		278		368
Totals Assets	4,678		4,439		4,678		4,439
Capital Expenditures					77		122
Boddington [Member] | Gold [Member]
Financial Information of Newmont's Segments
Sales	281		245		843		746
Costs Applicable to Sales	155		112		449		329
Amortization	37		28		118		87
Boddington [Member] | Copper [Member]
Financial Information of Newmont's Segments
Sales	60		40		163		147
Costs Applicable to Sales	39		28		107		83
Amortization	7		6		25		20
Batu Hijau [Member]
Financial Information of Newmont's Segments
Sales	170		431		482		1,274
Costs Applicable to Sales	116		131		301		363
Amortization	23		30		59		82
Advanced Projects and Exploration	8		2		22		3
Pre-Tax Income (Loss)	10		258		42		767
Totals Assets	3,662		3,690		3,662		3,690
Capital Expenditures					98		149
Batu Hijau [Member] | Gold [Member]
Financial Information of Newmont's Segments
Sales	24		198		76		430
Costs Applicable to Sales	17		58		47		122
Amortization	2		14		8		28
Batu Hijau [Member] | Copper [Member]
Financial Information of Newmont's Segments
Sales	146		233		406		844
Costs Applicable to Sales	99		73		254		241
Amortization	21		16		51		54
Other Australia New Zealand [Member]
Financial Information of Newmont's Segments
Sales	358		437		1,116		1,227
Costs Applicable to Sales	201		174		573		498
Amortization	34		36		103		102
Advanced Projects and Exploration	18		14		51		36
Pre-Tax Income (Loss)	98		218		378		583
Totals Assets	1,390		1,169		1,390		1,169
Capital Expenditures					214		212
Other Asia Pacific [Member]
Financial Information of Newmont's Segments
Sales	0		0		0		0
Costs Applicable to Sales	0		0		0		0
Amortization	0		1		3		2
Advanced Projects and Exploration	5		5		15		11
Pre-Tax Income (Loss)	(16)		3		(20)		(31)
Totals Assets	827		415		827		415
Capital Expenditures					12		8
Total Asia Pacific [Member]
Financial Information of Newmont's Segments
Sales	869		1,153		2,604		3,394
Costs Applicable to Sales	511		445		1,430		1,273
Amortization	101		101		308		293
Advanced Projects and Exploration	33		24		95		56
Pre-Tax Income (Loss)	190		603		678		1,687
Totals Assets	10,557		9,713		10,557		9,713
Capital Expenditures					401		491
Ahafo [Member]
Financial Information of Newmont's Segments
Sales	204		243		693		708
Costs Applicable to Sales	69		71		241		216
Amortization	18		19		58		61
Advanced Projects and Exploration	20		11		42		26
Pre-Tax Income (Loss)	98		134		348		389
Totals Assets	1,350		1,103		1,350		1,103
Capital Expenditures					176		71
Akyem [Member]
Financial Information of Newmont's Segments
Sales	0		0		0		0
Costs Applicable to Sales	0		0		0		0
Amortization	0		0		0		0
Advanced Projects and Exploration	6		2		15		4
Pre-Tax Income (Loss)	(6)		(3)		(16)		(5)
Totals Assets	888		420		888		420
Capital Expenditures					305		127
Other Africa [Member]
Financial Information of Newmont's Segments
Sales	0		0		0		0
Costs Applicable to Sales	0		0		0		0
Amortization	0		0		0		0
Advanced Projects and Exploration	3		2		8		5
Pre-Tax Income (Loss)	(4)		(3)		(8)		(9)
Totals Assets	6		4		6		4
Capital Expenditures					0		0
Total Africa [Member]
Financial Information of Newmont's Segments
Sales	204		243		693		708
Costs Applicable to Sales	69		71		241		216
Amortization	18		19		58		61
Advanced Projects and Exploration	29		15		65		35
Pre-Tax Income (Loss)	88		128		324		375
Totals Assets	2,244		1,527		2,244		1,527
Capital Expenditures					481		198
Corporate and Other [Member]
Financial Information of Newmont's Segments
Sales	0		0		0		0
Costs Applicable to Sales	0		0		0		0
Amortization	4		5		13		14
Advanced Projects and Exploration	30		32		97		83
Pre-Tax Income (Loss)	(138)		(285)		(439)		(584)
Totals Assets	4,251		5,050		4,251		5,050
Capital Expenditures					$ 76		$ 23

[1] (1) Excludes Amortization and Reclamation and remediation.