Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES (Narrative) (Details)

v2.4.0.8
DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2013
Jun. 30, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Jun. 30, 2013
Australian Dollar Foreign Exchange Contract Hedge Designation [Member]
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Australian Dollar Foreign Exchange Contract Hedge Designation [Member]
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Jun. 30, 2013
Australian Dollar Foreign Exchange Contract Hedge Designation [Member]
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Jun. 30, 2013
Canadian Dollar Foreign Exchange Contracts Hedge Designation [Member]
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Canadian Dollar Foreign Exchange Contracts Hedge Designation [Member]
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Jun. 30, 2013
Canadian Dollar Foreign Exchange Contracts Hedge Designation [Member]
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Jun. 30, 2013
Customer Supply Agreement [Member]
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Product Revenues [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Customer Supply Agreement [Member]
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Product Revenues [Member]
Jun. 30, 2013
Customer Supply Agreement [Member]
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Product Revenues [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Customer Supply Agreement [Member]
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Product Revenues [Member]
Jun. 30, 2013
Customer Supply Agreement [Member]
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative Assets [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Customer Supply Agreement [Member]
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative Assets [Member]
Jun. 30, 2013
Provisional Pricing Arrangements [Member]
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Product Revenues [Member]
Jun. 30, 2013
Provisional Pricing Arrangements [Member]
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
U.S. Iron Ore, Eastern Canadian Iron Ore And Asia Pacific Iron Ore [Member]
Product Revenues [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Provisional Pricing Arrangements [Member]
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
U.S. Iron Ore, Eastern Canadian Iron Ore And Asia Pacific Iron Ore [Member]
Product Revenues [Member]
Jun. 30, 2013
Provisional Pricing Arrangements [Member]
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
U.S. Iron Ore, Eastern Canadian Iron Ore And Asia Pacific Iron Ore [Member]
Product Revenues [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Provisional Pricing Arrangements [Member]
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
U.S. Iron Ore, Eastern Canadian Iron Ore And Asia Pacific Iron Ore [Member]
Product Revenues [Member]
Jun. 30, 2013
Provisional Pricing Arrangements [Member]
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
U.S. Iron Ore, Eastern Canadian Iron Ore And Asia Pacific Iron Ore [Member]
Derivative Assets [Member]
Jun. 30, 2013
Provisional Pricing Arrangements [Member]
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
U.S. Iron Ore, Eastern Canadian Iron Ore And Asia Pacific Iron Ore [Member]
Derivative Liabilities [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Provisional Pricing Arrangements [Member]
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
U.S. Iron Ore and Eastern Canadian Iron Ore [Member]
Derivative Assets [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Provisional Pricing Arrangements [Member]
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
U.S. Iron Ore and Eastern Canadian Iron Ore [Member]
Derivative Liabilities [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Provisional Pricing Arrangements [Member]
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
U.S. Iron Ore [Member]
Product Revenues [Member]
Jun. 30, 2012
Provisional Pricing Arrangements [Member]
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
U.S. Iron Ore [Member]
Product Revenues [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]                                                    
Notional amounts of outstanding exchange rate contracts       $ 358.0 $ 400.0   $ 611.7 $ 630.4                                    
Amount that will be reclassified to product revenues in the next 12 months upon settlement of the related contracts           (24.7)     (15.6)                                  
Amount of gain/(loss) recognized in income on derivative (2.2) (4.2)               35.4 42.6 59.5 82.0     0 (28.2) (5.2) (31.1) (2.2)         96.1 96.1
Derivative assets 45.1 45.1 78.6                     44.2 58.9           0.9   3.5      
Derivative liabilities $ 88.6 $ 88.6 $ 13.2                                     $ 32.0   $ 11.3