In this contribution we review some examples of Proterozoic mineral systems that developed close to the edge of uncovered, and within a few kilometres of Archean basement by drawing on mineral potential mapping data, extensive geophysical surveys and geological mapping in these regions. Mineral systems formed during compressional or extensional episodes are sometimes thought to be influenced by the geometry and composition of underlying Archean crust, ancient deep crustal-scale structures, or even metal-enriched sub-continental lithospheric mantle of Archean age. However, tracing their influence into mineralised zones within Proterozoic basins or orogenic belts is often enigmatic. The Yilgarn Craton is surrounded by Proterozoic margins that, as far as is known, all differ in terms of mineral deposits. Within the craton itself, Au and Ni-Cu-PGE deposits (particularly komatiite-hosted) are relatively abundant and in some cases fairly evenly spaced. Around the margins of the craton however, these types of deposits (including intrusive magmatic Ni-Cu-PGE) are less common and not predictably spatially distributed. For example, the large Tropicana Au deposit hosted in high-temperature Archean gneiss in the north-eastern part of the Albany-Fraser Orogen on the south-eastern margin of the craton is an isolated Archean Au deposit, and no similar deposits have been found within the orogen. In comparison, gold deposits in the Yerrida Basin of the Capricorn Orogen on the north-eastern craton margin are relatively small and associated with specific geological units and structural zones. In northern Australia, the Kimberley Basin developed above an unexposed Archean basement and its east and west margins contain Proterozoic to Phanerozoic mineralisation including valuable critical mineral deposits such as Ni-Cu-PGEs, V-Ti, orogenic Au, and gems such as diamonds. Archean structure and fertility may have influenced some regions of Ni-Cu-PGE and Au mineral systems development. For example, emplacement of mafic-ultramafic bodies containing Ni-Cu-PGE mineralisation in the Kimberley and Albany-Fraser regions and lamprophyre dykes in the Kimberley may have been channelled through deep-seated orogen perpendicular structures, over which transcurrent movement occurred during subsequent basin development or inversion along the craton margin. Intrusive magmatic Ni-Cu-PGE deposits typically form in small conduits with high magma volumes and it is likely that perpendicular structures facilitate this. The Yilgarn Craton is dominated by a north-westerly structural trend, although recent investigations of granite geochemistry suggest early east-west trends, similar to those of the 2.4 Ga Widgiemooltha dyke suite. Ni mineralisation has recently been identified within a Widgiemooltha sill adjacent to the Ida Fault, a terrane boundary. The Mesoproterozoic Nova-Bollinger intrusive magmatic Ni-Cu-PGE deposit occurs adjacent to northeast-trending crustal-scale structures within the Albany-Fraser Orogen and was likely structurally controlled at depth as it was emplaced during reworking of the craton margin. One factor that may influence the role of underlying Archean basement is whether remobilisation of metals is important to form deposits. For magmatic Ni-Cu-PGE deposits remobilization is typically destructive so craton edges with well-preserved Archean architecture and intersecting structures hosting intrusions may be more favourable, whereas gold and base metals may benefit from reactivation and the influence of fluid flow, particularly during basin formation above craton margins.