Starting from a discussion of selected characteristic 18th century theories of empirical research and (nature) philosophy, the study undertakes an analysis of mineralogical motifs in the works of Novalis. His poetological interpretations of scientific models are examined in the theoretic context of his daringly experimental encyclopedic vision of the sciences (Enzyklopäauml;distik). Novalis' speculative conception of self-consciousness and his sound knowledge of chemistry and physics form the foundation from which he develops innovative approaches to the poetic construction of reality.