Reply #17: I noticed that you live in California...

[Zookeeper]

I used to live in S.F. and was a member of a gem and mineral group that had a clubhouse, of sorts, with all the necessary lapidary equipment. It was out in the Avenues, fairly close to the ocean. That said, having done some lapidary work, I'm not sure this endeavor would be worth the expense of buying any equipment. If you can find equipment to share or borrow, it might be fun to try.

As other people mentioned, it will be a challenge to find a mineral that can be sliced thinly enough without breaking. Have you thought about trying a rigid plexiglass? It could be cut with a jig- or scroll-saw and is non-conductive.