Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details)

v2.4.1.9
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended 3 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2014
Sep. 30, 2014
Jun. 30, 2014
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Sep. 30, 2013
Jun. 30, 2013
Mar. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2011
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Net of Tax $ (291.1)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDefinedBenefitPensionAndOtherPostretirementPlansNetOfTax $ (204.9)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDefinedBenefitPensionAndOtherPostretirementPlansNetOfTax $ (382.7)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDefinedBenefitPensionAndOtherPostretirementPlansNetOfTax $ (291.1)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDefinedBenefitPensionAndOtherPostretirementPlansNetOfTax $ (188.3)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDefinedBenefitPensionAndOtherPostretirementPlansNetOfTax $ (199.4)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDefinedBenefitPensionAndOtherPostretirementPlansNetOfTax $ (202.0)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDefinedBenefitPensionAndOtherPostretirementPlansNetOfTax $ (204.9)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDefinedBenefitPensionAndOtherPostretirementPlansNetOfTax $ (365.1)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDefinedBenefitPensionAndOtherPostretirementPlansNetOfTax $ (370.8)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDefinedBenefitPensionAndOtherPostretirementPlansNetOfTax $ (377.4)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDefinedBenefitPensionAndOtherPostretirementPlansNetOfTax $ (408.9)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDefinedBenefitPensionAndOtherPostretirementPlansNetOfTax
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (245.8)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax (112.9)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax (55.6)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax (245.8)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax (101.4)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax (20.2)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax (55.1)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax (112.9)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax (178.4)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax (239.6)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax (51.4)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax (92.6)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Available-for-sale Securities Adjustment, Net of Tax (1.0)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax 6.2us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax 2.1us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax (1.0)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax 0.6us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax 6.4us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax 10.1us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax 6.2us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax 10.7us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax 6.3us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax 4.7us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax 2.6us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax 64.4us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax 106.7us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax 316.3us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax 64.4us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax 101.0us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax 166.9us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax 147.2us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax 106.7us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax 190.4us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax 167.6us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax 319.6us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax 312.5us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cumulative Changes in Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges, Effect Net of Tax (18.1)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCumulativeChangesInNetGainLossFromCashFlowHedgesEffectNetOfTax (20.9)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCumulativeChangesInNetGainLossFromCashFlowHedgesEffectNetOfTax 8.7us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCumulativeChangesInNetGainLossFromCashFlowHedgesEffectNetOfTax (18.1)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCumulativeChangesInNetGainLossFromCashFlowHedgesEffectNetOfTax (14.7)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCumulativeChangesInNetGainLossFromCashFlowHedgesEffectNetOfTax 5.9us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCumulativeChangesInNetGainLossFromCashFlowHedgesEffectNetOfTax (10.4)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCumulativeChangesInNetGainLossFromCashFlowHedgesEffectNetOfTax (20.9)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCumulativeChangesInNetGainLossFromCashFlowHedgesEffectNetOfTax (14.4)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCumulativeChangesInNetGainLossFromCashFlowHedgesEffectNetOfTax (42.7)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCumulativeChangesInNetGainLossFromCashFlowHedgesEffectNetOfTax 1.7us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCumulativeChangesInNetGainLossFromCashFlowHedgesEffectNetOfTax 1.2us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCumulativeChangesInNetGainLossFromCashFlowHedgesEffectNetOfTax
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax 91.0us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetOfTax (208.3)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetOfTax (33.8)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetOfTax                  
Unrealized net gain (loss) on marketable securities, net of tax (7.2)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax 3.1us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax (0.5)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax                  
Unrealized net gain (loss) on foreign currency translation (42.3)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax (208.6)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax 3.8us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax                  
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax (137.7)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax (26.8)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax 44.6us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax                  
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]                        
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, before Tax       (152.3)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTax
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(81.1)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTax
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25.6us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTax
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41.6us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTax
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49.3us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTax
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37.8us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTax
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(197.7)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTax
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(0.3)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTax
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Amounts Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)       7.9clf_AmountsReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss
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(0.1)clf_AmountsReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss
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16.2clf_AmountsReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss
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23.4clf_AmountsReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss
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4.5clf_AmountsReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss
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Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member]                        
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, before Tax       (98.7)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTax
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3.5us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTax
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(1.4)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTax
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(0.4)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTax
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154.5us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTax
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(0.6)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTax
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Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss) [Member]                        
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, before Tax       (1.4)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTax
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1.3us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTax
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(2.4)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTax
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3.8us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTax
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(4.9)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTax
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3.5us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTax
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2.5us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTax
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Accumulated Translation Adjustment [Member]                        
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, before Tax       (36.6)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTax
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(65.9)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTax
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19.7us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTax
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40.5us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTax
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(83.7)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTax
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22.8us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTax
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(152.0)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTax
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3.3us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTax
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Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member]                        
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, before Tax       (15.6)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTax
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9.7us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTax
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(2.3)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTax
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12.1us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTax
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(42.2)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsBeforeTax
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Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member]                        
Amounts Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)       (4.1)clf_AmountsReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss
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7.6clf_AmountsReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss
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4.0clf_AmountsReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss
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6.4clf_AmountsReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss
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Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss) [Member]                        
Amounts Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)       (0.2)clf_AmountsReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss
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Accumulated Translation Adjustment [Member]                        
Amounts Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)       0clf_AmountsReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss
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Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member]                        
Amounts Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)       12.2clf_AmountsReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss
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16.2clf_AmountsReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss
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Cliffs Shareholders Equity [Member]                        
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax     26.2us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetOfTax
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Unrealized net gain (loss) on marketable securities, net of tax     (0.5)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax
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Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment, Tax     3.8us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentTax
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Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax     7.5us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax
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Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax     $ 37.0us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
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