Production Costs - Summary of Production Costs (Parenthetical) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Analysis of income and expense [abstract]
Salaries and employee benefits included in corporate administration	$ 64	$ 69
Restructuring activities incurred at mine sites which are presented as restructuring	$ 4	$ 28

Severance costs incurred at mine sites which are excluded from production costs as they are presented separately as restructuring costs in the statement of earnings.

No definition available.

Name:	gg_SeveranceCostsAtMineSitesExcludedFromProductionCosts
Namespace Prefix:	gg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration