BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Schedule Of Subsidiaries) (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Northshore [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Entity Address, State or Province	Minnesota
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent	100.00%
Segment Reporting Information, Description of Products and Services	Iron Ore
United Taconite [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Entity Address, State or Province	Minnesota
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent	100.00%
Segment Reporting Information, Description of Products and Services	Iron Ore
Wabush [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Entity Address, State or Province	Newfoundland and Labrador/ Quebec, Canada
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent	100.00%
Segment Reporting Information, Description of Products and Services	Iron Ore
Bloom Lake [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Entity Address, State or Province	Quebec, Canada
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent	82.80%
Segment Reporting Information, Description of Products and Services	Iron Ore
Tilden [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Entity Address, State or Province	Michigan
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent	85.00%
Segment Reporting Information, Description of Products and Services	Iron Ore
Empire [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Entity Address, State or Province	Michigan
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent	79.00%
Segment Reporting Information, Description of Products and Services	Iron Ore
Koolyanobbing [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Entity Address, State or Province	Western Australia
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent	100.00%
Segment Reporting Information, Description of Products and Services	Iron Ore
Pinnacle [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Entity Address, State or Province	West Virginia
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent	100.00%
Segment Reporting Information, Description of Products and Services	Coal
Oak Grove [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Entity Address, State or Province	Alabama
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent	100.00%
Segment Reporting Information, Description of Products and Services	Coal
CLCC [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Entity Address, State or Province	West Virginia
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent	100.00%
Segment Reporting Information, Description of Products and Services	Coal