Calcinatio

Alchemical Tarot - Ace of Fire
Alchemical Tarot - Ace of Fire
Transformation Tarot
from Atalanta Fugiens, 1618 - Manly P. Hall collection, PRS

Calcination is usually considered the first operation in alchemy.  It is usually followed by Solution and some form of Separation.  Whether other operations, such as Fermentation, Distillation, Mortification, etc, follow, becomes less clear in many texts.  After Solution or Separation, we always find some kind of coagulation or conjunction.