from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Cupellation \Cu`pel*la"tion\ (k[=u]`p[e^]l*l[=a]"sh[u^]n) n.
[See {Cupel}.]
The act or process of refining gold or silver, etc., in a
cupel.
[1913 Webster]
Note: The process consist in exposing the cupel containing
the metal to be assayed or refined to a hot blast, by
which the lead, copper, tin, etc., are oxidized,
dissolved, and carried down into the porous cupel,
leaving the unoxidizable precious metal. If lead is not
already present in the alloy it must be added before
cupellation.
[1913 Webster]