Surface plates (the cheap ones I mentioned) dont' come as thin as 1", 2-3" is the norm. Shipping weight on the 18x24x3 is 200-250lbs IIRC. 17x19 (weird size, btw...not going to find something like that off the shelf) x 1 is still going to be 50+ lbs., at least. It's tough to estimate the density of stone until you work with it in person. For the surface plates I mentioned, $45-135.
-Ed