Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Schedule Of Subsidiaries) (Details)

v2.4.0.8
BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Schedule Of Subsidiaries) (Details)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
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 75.00%
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