Surfaces with the furrowed atomic corrugation induce a strong anisotropy both in lateral interaction of adatoms and in surface diffusion. This gives rise to some interesting peculiarities in structure and diffusion kinetics of adsorbed layers. In particular, chain-like adatom structures are typical of such surfaces, and surface diffusion of adatoms may have a quasi-one-dimensional character. In our work we report on the data obtained in a study of the surface diffusion of electropositive adsorbates, Li and Sr, on the (112) surface of Mo which is made of close packed rows of atoms separated by atomically deep furrows. The method used was a contact potential technique with a narrow (~ 15μ m) electron beam providing an accuracy of the work function measurements of ~ 10 −3 eV. The diffusional evolution of adsorbate coverage profiles, initially shaped as sharp-edged steps, stripes and trenches, results in a complex self-organization of the diffusion zone. The most extended 2D phases emerging in the zone are those having the highest diffusion rate. We have also observed an unusual nonmonotonic variation of adatom concentration in space and time which may be caused by the strong nonlinearity of the system under study. Diffusion mechanisms operating under various conditions are discussed.