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BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Depreciation Methods And Useful Lives) (Details) (Details)
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12 Months Ended |
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Dec. 31, 2012
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U.S. Iron Ore and Eastern Canadian Iron Ore [Member] | Building [Member]
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| Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] | |
| Property, plant, and equipment, depreciation method | Straight line |
| Property, plant, and equipment, useful life | 45 years |
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U.S. Iron Ore and Eastern Canadian Iron Ore [Member] | Equipment [Member]
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| Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] | |
| Property, plant, and equipment, depreciation method | Straight line/Double declining balance |
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U.S. Iron Ore and Eastern Canadian Iron Ore [Member] | Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]
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| Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] | |
| Property, plant, and equipment, useful life | 10 years |
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U.S. Iron Ore and Eastern Canadian Iron Ore [Member] | Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]
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| Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] | |
| Property, plant, and equipment, useful life | 20 years |
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U.S. Iron Ore and Eastern Canadian Iron Ore [Member] | Other Machinery and Equipment [Member]
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| Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] | |
| Property, plant, and equipment, depreciation method | Straight line |
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U.S. Iron Ore and Eastern Canadian Iron Ore [Member] | Other Machinery and Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]
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| Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] | |
| Property, plant, and equipment, useful life | 15 years |
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U.S. Iron Ore and Eastern Canadian Iron Ore [Member] | Other Machinery and Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]
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| Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] | |
| Property, plant, and equipment, useful life | 45 years |
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U.S. Iron Ore and Eastern Canadian Iron Ore [Member] | Computer Equipment [Member]
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| Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] | |
| Property, plant, and equipment, depreciation method | Straight line |
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U.S. Iron Ore and Eastern Canadian Iron Ore [Member] | Computer Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]
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| Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] | |
| Property, plant, and equipment, useful life | 2 years |
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U.S. Iron Ore and Eastern Canadian Iron Ore [Member] | Computer Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]
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| Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] | |
| Property, plant, and equipment, useful life | 7 years |
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Asia Pacific Iron Ore [Member] | Property Plant And Equipment [Member]
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| Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] | |
| Property, plant, and equipment, depreciation method | Straight line |
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Asia Pacific Iron Ore [Member] | Property Plant And Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]
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| Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] | |
| Property, plant, and equipment, useful life | 5 years |
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Asia Pacific Iron Ore [Member] | Property Plant And Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]
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| Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] | |
| Property, plant, and equipment, useful life | 10 years |
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Asia Pacific Iron Ore [Member] | Mine Development [Member]
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| Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] | |
| Property, plant, and equipment, depreciation method | Production output |
| Property, plant, and equipment, useful life | 10 years |
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Asia Pacific Iron Ore [Member] | Vehicles And Office Equipment [Member]
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| Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] | |
| Property, plant, and equipment, depreciation method | Straight line |
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Asia Pacific Iron Ore [Member] | Vehicles And Office Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]
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| Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] | |
| Property, plant, and equipment, useful life | 3 years |
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Asia Pacific Iron Ore [Member] | Vehicles And Office Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]
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| Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] | |
| Property, plant, and equipment, useful life | 5 years |
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North American Coal [Member] | Building [Member]
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| Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] | |
| Property, plant, and equipment, depreciation method | Straight line |
| Property, plant, and equipment, useful life | 30 years |
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North American Coal [Member] | Equipment [Member]
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| Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] | |
| Property, plant, and equipment, depreciation method | Straight line |
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North American Coal [Member] | Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]
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| Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] | |
| Property, plant, and equipment, useful life | 2 years |
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North American Coal [Member] | Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]
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| Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] | |
| Property, plant, and equipment, useful life | 22 years |
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North American Coal [Member] | Other Machinery and Equipment [Member]
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| Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] | |
| Property, plant, and equipment, depreciation method | Straight line |
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North American Coal [Member] | Other Machinery and Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]
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| Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] | |
| Property, plant, and equipment, useful life | 2 years |
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North American Coal [Member] | Other Machinery and Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]
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| Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] | |
| Property, plant, and equipment, useful life | 30 years |
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North American Coal [Member] | Computer Equipment [Member]
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| Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] | |
| Property, plant, and equipment, depreciation method | Straight line |
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North American Coal [Member] | Computer Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]
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| Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] | |
| Property, plant, and equipment, useful life | 2 years |
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North American Coal [Member] | Computer Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]
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| Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] | |
| Property, plant, and equipment, useful life | 3 years |