Abstract: A skimming separator for scavenging liquid and solid floating matter from the face of a body of liquid, wherein traction surfaced contiguous cylinders counter-rotate to frictionally convey a contacting layer of liquid and proximate flotage matter thereon directly into a natural floating reservoir formed by the cylinders and the body of liquid below. Within the reservoir, conveyed solid flotage is selectively either entrapped by a guard screen, or, by adjustment of the screen, abraded by the traction surface into a floating liquified slurry for disposal along with the conveyed originally liquid flotage by pump means. In passing through the nip of the contiguous cylinders, the traction surface is regenerated for reuse in the subsequent recirculation cycle.