1. the process of extracting soluble substances from a solid material by percolating a liquid (usually water) through it
Usage: technical term used in chemistry, geology, and soil science
2. the removal of mineral salts and nutrients from soil by the downward movement of water
Usage: geology and soil science context

Examples

• Lixiviation is used in mining to extract valuable metals from ore.
• Heavy rainfall can cause lixiviation of nutrients from the topsoil.
• The chemist employed lixiviation to separate the salt from the mineral sample.
• Lixiviation of potash from wood ash was a common practice in colonial America.
• Soil lixiviation reduces fertility in tropical regions with high precipitation.
• The laboratory used lixiviation to purify the compound from its raw material.