Description of the Business and Basis of Presentation	6 Months Ended
Description of the Business and Basis of Presentation	Jul. 31, 2011
Description of the Business and Basis of Presentation [Abstract]
DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION	NOTE 1 — DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION Description of the Business Argan, Inc. (“Argan”) conducts continuing operations through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Gemma Power Systems, LLC and affiliates (“GPS”), which provide the substantial portion of consolidated net revenues, and Southern Maryland Cable, Inc. (“SMC”). Argan and these consolidated subsidiaries are hereinafter referred to as the “Company.” Through GPS, the Company provides a full range of engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, maintenance and consulting services to the power generation and renewable energy markets for a wide range of customers including public utilities and independent power project owners. Through SMC, the Company provides telecommunications infrastructure services including project management, construction, installation and maintenance to commercial, local government and federal government customers primarily in the Mid-Atlantic region. Each of the wholly-owned subsidiaries represents a separate reportable segment. Argan also presents the operations of Vitarich Laboratories, Inc. (“VLI”) as discontinued operations for the three and six months ended July 31, 2011 and 2010 as discussed in Note 2 to the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements. Basis of Presentation The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Argan and its wholly owned subsidiaries. The Company’s fiscal year ends on January 31. All significant inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of July 31, 2011, the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and six months ended July 31, 2011 and 2010, and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the six months ended July 31, 2011 and 2010 are unaudited. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of January 31, 2011 has been derived from audited financial statements. In the opinion of management, the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments, which are of a normal and recurring nature, considered necessary to present fairly the financial position of the Company as of July 31, 2011 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the interim periods presented. The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for any other interim period or for a full fiscal year. These condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those rules and regulations, although the Company believes that the disclosures made are adequate to make the information not misleading. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements and notes should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements, the notes thereto (including the summary of significant accounting policies), and the independent registered public accounting firm’s report thereon that are included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2011 on April 14, 2011. Fair Values The provisions of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, apply to all assets and liabilities that are being measured and reported on a fair value basis. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date in the principal or most advantageous market. The requirements prescribe a fair value hierarchy that has three levels of inputs, both observable and unobservable, with use of the lowest possible level of input to determine fair value. Level 1 inputs include quoted market prices in an active market or the price of an identical asset or liability. Level 2 inputs are market data other than Level 1 inputs that are observable either directly or indirectly including quoted market prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted market prices in an inactive market, and other observable information that can be corroborated by market data. Level 3 inputs are unobservable and corroborated by little or no market data. The carrying value amounts of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and other current liabilities are reasonable estimates of their fair values due to the short-term nature of these instruments. The fair value of business segments (as needed for purposes of determining indications of impairment to the carrying value of goodwill) is determined using an average of valuations based on market multiples and discounted cash flows, and consideration of our market capitalization. In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2011-04, Fair Value Measurement. The amendments in this update are intended to improve the comparability of fair value measurements presented and disclosed in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs). Certain amendments clarify the FASB’s intent about the application of existing fair value measurement and disclosure requirements. The others change certain principles or requirements for measuring fair value or for disclosing information about fair value measurements. The amendments included in this update, which will be effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011, are not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

The entire disclosure for the organization, consolidation and basis of presentation of financial statements disclosure, and significant accounting policies of the reporting entity. May be provided in more than one note to the financial statements, as long as users are provided with an understanding of (1) the significant judgments and assumptions made by an enterprise in determining whether it must consolidate a VIE and/or disclose information about its involvement with a VIE, (2) the nature of restrictions on a consolidated VIE's assets reported by an enterprise in its statement of financial position, including the carrying amounts of such assets, (3) the nature of, and changes in, the risks associated with an enterprise's involvement with the VIE, and (4) how an enterprise's involvement with the VIE affects the enterprise's financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. Describes procedure if disclosures are provided in more than one note to the financial statements.

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