Oscillatory zoning caused by oscillating surface relaxations

Oscillatory zoning is a spatial variation in the composition of minerals. I t has been observed in many different minerals and a variety of mechanisms have been proposed to explain it. We propose an equilibrium model of oscill atory zoning in which the variations in composition stabilise a ferroelasti c phase. This results in a sinusoidal variation in composition. We expect t hat this mechanism could account for oscillatory zoning found in minerals w ith oscillatory surface relaxations.