Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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.

   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.