Since 2008, we have been studying several Archean and Paleoproterozoic terranes in Greenland with respect to their tectonometamorphic and magmatic evolution. Microanalytical tools for geochronology and petrological modelling are paramount in the understanding of orogens and their hydrothermal systems that potentially formed ore deposits. We mainly study Precambrian orogens and their high-metamorphic grade terranes. Such terranes are often regarded as barren and only weakly explored for mineral deposits. We identified several promising targets and described mineral systems for orogenic gold and magmatic nickel deposits. The individual research projects yield new ideas about formation of Precambrian orogens on the one side and about hydrothermal systems, their potential to form ore deposits and their mineral exploration criteria on the other side.