The Collaborative International Dictionary
Liquation \Li*qua"tion\ (l[-i]*kw[=a]"sh[u^]n), n. [L. liquatio: cf. F. liquation.]
The act or operation of making or becoming liquid; also, the capacity of becoming liquid.
(Metal.) The process of separating, by heat, an easily fusible metal from one less fusible; eliquation.
Wiktionary
n. (context metallurgy English) The partial melting of a mixture of metals or ores in order to separate components
Wikipedia
Liquation is a metallurgical method for separating metals from an ore or alloy. The material must be heated until one of the metals starts to melt and drain away from the other and can be collected. This method was largely used to remove lead containing silver from copper, but it can also be used to remove antimony minerals from ore, and refine tin.
Usage examples of "liquation".
The metal itself is easily fusible, and may be separated from its ores by liquation.